OBESITY in African-American ADOLESCENTS
The objective of this work is to examine program development of a health need and develop an educational program. Toward this end, this work will focus on obesity in African-American adolescents. Obesity can lead to other more serious diseases such as diabetes mellitus.
Childhood obesity rates in the U.S. are especially prominent among African-American children and because of this a “comprehensive understanding of the numerous environmental factors that influence physical activity, rising rates cannot be effectively curbed.”(Black Health Care, 2008)
According to the Black Health Care document entitled: “Diabetes in African-Americans?” 1.3 million African-American individuals were known to have diabetes in 1993. This is approximately three times higher than African-Americans with diabetes in 1963. For each white American with diabetes, 1.6 African-American individuals have diabetes. Additionally one in every four black females over the age of 55 has diabetes. African-Americans who have diabetes are “more likely to develop diabetes complications and experience greater disability from the complications than white Americans with diabetes.” (Black Health Care, 2008)
The work of William Dietz entitled: “Focus Group Data Pertinent to the Prevention of Obesity in African-Americans” relates that it is likely that “the increased prevalence of obesity among African-American women makes it likely that they bear a disproportionate burden of comorbidities attributable to obesity.” (Dietz, 2000) Dietz reports that a campaign was initiated in Boston for the purpose of promoting health eating and physical activity among African-American women between the ages of 18 and 35. Barriers to healthy eating identified in this study include that of the cost of food particularly related to fruits and vegetables in that the ability for consumption of these two food items was “related to socioeconomic class.” (Dietz, 2000)
Dietz relates that there was a strong interest shown by participants for healthy recipes. This study states findings that women cited their mother as the “most responsible and credible source, physicians and health officials were ranked second, and community-based programs were ranked third.” (Dietz, 2000) This study found that it was perceived by these women that “Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey” had “special access to resources unavailable to most people, such as a personal trainer and personal cook.” (Dietz, 2000) This initiative which was called “Sisters Together” is stated to have designed a program for cable access television which was named “What’s Cooking in the Neighborhood” and that healthy recipes were prepared by neighborhood chefs. Additionally brochures were designed specifically for African-American women and their interests. One example is stated to be a ‘walking brochure’ which is stated to have provided a rationale for walking and warm-up activities and promoted a group walking program.” (Dietz, 2000) Additionally a dance program specifically designed for African-American women was inclusive in the activities in this study.
Dietz relates that CDC has focused increasingly on “youth and recently conducted 12 focus group sessions with adolescents in Atlanta and San Antonio. This study reports 12 focus group discussions comprised of African-Americans, Mexican-American and white adolescents, both males and females; all were either normal weight or overweight. It is related that “one of the biggest obstacles to physical activity is the amount of time and money that African-American spend on hair care and this brochure was incorporated into the program. There was also a “Sisters Together, Move More, Eat Better Program Guide” which provided advice concerning how the program could be replicated. The study states findings that teachers of physical education were found not to be viewed as alliances by adolescents who were overweight. Barriers to adolescent aged African-American students I stated in this study to be one of the nature that viewed barriers to be present in the school cafeteria setting. Noted as well in this study is the barrier presented by vending machines in relation to healthy diets. Dietz states that there is presently a campaign underway which the One Hundred Black Men of America and is a mentoring program “directed at young African-American males, a group with one of the most unhealthy eating patterns.
The campaign is a collaboration between 100 Black Men, the California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness organization (CANfit), the USDA and the CDCD’s Division of Nutrition and Physician Activity. CANfit, which is responsible for the development and delivery of the strategy, is designing a physical activity and diet curriculum consistent with the mentoring program of 100 Black Men.” (Dietz, 2000) This approach is one which teaches individuals how to implement an analysis within the community of “nutrition and physical activity resources.” (Dietz, 2000) the results of the examination are that which the strategy and design of the program is based in addressing what is a community problem. Dietz reports that community interventions have only recently been focused upon in studies and none of these programs are fully developed. It is important to understand that African-Americans do not link body weight to health outcomes. Community development programs have, according to Dietz (2000), provided both “insights and lessons learned” that will serve to “guide the development of future activities.” (Dietz, 2000) the work entitled: “Being Overweight is a Matter of Independent Preference and Environment for Female African-American Adolescents” states that 23.6 of African-American females ages twelve to nineteen years of age are overweight.” (the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, 2007) Additionally stated is the fact that along with being overweight comes a “sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition.” (Ibid, 2007)
It is reported that the researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a multiple institutions study and used a sample of 12 adolescents and their mother and interviewed the subjects relating to “attitudes and perceptions toward body image, food and physical activity.” (the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, 2007) Findings of the research include those as follows:
The individual’s immediate social and familial circle largely influenced body size and weight, not her peers;
Close friends around the teenagers are more accepting of being overweight and there is little social pressure for the teens to alter their habits;
Nutrition was not a factor in choosing what to eat; texture, taste, appearance and “context” were more important;
Physical activity was limited by time constraints, access to exercise opportunities, and by neighborhood safety;
Structured exercise was limited by its cost and because of the time involved in maintaining personal aesthetics, such as tending to their hair and nails; and Celebrities were not perceived as role models for diet and physical activity habits. (the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, 2007
The work of Hughes, Areghan, Knight and Oyebola states that current trends in obesity among African-American adolescents in the State of Mississippi especially in the Delta remains alarming and disheartening. According to the Mississippi 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 1 out of 3 African-American adolescent is obese with higher ratios for those living in the Delta. Several factors have been attributed to this observed trend. The Delta is probably the most undeserved region in the state with African-Americans being the major ethnic group. Accessibility and availability of medical care is also a problem. It is estimated that over 60% of residents live below the poverty level. Most schools do not have a physical education curriculum. Even more so, nutrition education is not emphasized. Efforts made by public health officials and researchers by the way of intervention have had little success on affecting positively on this issue. The point being raised now is whether these strategies are culturally sensitive and at the same time practicable. Since obesity starts in early childhood extending into the adolescent years and then possibly into adulthood, behavior modification is key to preventing the onset of obesity in this population group altogether. Community development is crucial to the success of any weight control program. The poverty level in this part of the state needs to be addressed in the way of providing jobs for locals and bringing in expatriates. For adolescents living in the Delta, health education on modifiable risk factors is mandatory if any change is to be seen.
FINDINGS of the REVIEW of LITERATURE
Findings of the literature reviewed in this study include the key roles of mothers, cafeterias in schools, physical education teachers and food accessibility in overweight African-Americans. Community initiatives which are combined and integrated with school and home initiatives focused toward healthier eating have been found to be effective in educating and treating African-Americans who are suffering from obesity. Sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits coupled result in not only obesity but also oftentimes more serious diseases and complications such as experienced by those with diabetes mellitus, which is a common complication of obesity among African-American individuals.
RECOMMENDATIONS for PROGRAM DESIGN
Because there are cultural factors that greatly impact the rate of obesity among African-American individuals it is necessary that these types of programs and initiatives involve the family, school, and community at large in addressing this health problem if proper and effective programs are to be developed, designed and implemented in the African-American community. The perspective of African-Americans must be altered and furthermore the African-American community education concerning healthy eating habits and proper exercise is critically important towards this end.
Bibliography
Environmental Influences on Physical Activity and Obesity in African-American Adolescents – a Multilevel Perspective. (2008) Active Living Research. Online available at http://www.activelivingresearch.org/node/11623
Dietz, William, (2000) Focus Group Data Pertinent to the Prevention of Obesity in African-Americans. From the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences.
Cultural Attitudes Toward Weight, Diet, and Physical Activity Among Overweight African-American Girls” by Josephine E.A. Boyington and colleagues is found at http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2008/apr/07_0056.htm?s_cid=pcd52a36_e.
Hughes, Gail D. (2002) Obesity and the African-American Adolescent, the Mississippi Delta Report. 130th Annual Meeting of APHA. 11 Nov. 2002. Board 8. Online available at http://apha.confex.com/apha/130am/techprogram/paper_46137.htm
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
