Download or read book Parental Perceptions of Elementary School Body Mass Index Screenings written by Holly W. Acosta and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this study was to examine elementary parents' perceptions of body mass index screenings, and whether the perceptions varied when considering specific subgroups in the areas of educational levels and household incomes. Ninety-two parents of students from one elementary school in southeastern Pennsylvania volunteered to participate in this qualitative case study. The data sources used in this study included: school nurse generated body mass index screenings, which were provided to each parent; a parental perception survey which was modified by the researcher to gather information on education levels and annual household incomes of the participants, and a parent focus group. Results of the study indicated that parents of elementary school students perceived body mass index screenings as a valuable tool in monitoring and screening their children's weight. More positive perceptions were expressed towards the school being involved in more preventative measures, especially in the areas of promoting physical activities, good food choices, and overall healthy living. Parents expressed more negative perceptions to school-based interventions which focused on singling out students for obesity counseling, weight management, and low calorie meals being offered to certain students. While the majority of the responses in all subgroups were positive, there was a small increase in reported negative perceptions as the parent's reported education level and annual household incomes decreased. Many participants indicated that the body mass screenings were useful for increasing parent awareness, however only a small number of participants indicated that they made any significant changes after receiving the screenings.

Download or read book Parental Perceptions of Body Mass Index and Obesity in School Age Children written by Maureen Murphy and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: Parental Perceptions of Body Mass Index and Obesity in School Age Children Background: Childhood obesity research focuses on causes and complications. Gaps exist related to parental perceptions of BMI as a screening tool for obesity, receipt of BMI information, and the school's role in the collection and distribution of BMI data. Objectives: To determine: (a) parental perceptions regarding the causes of obesity and use of BMI as a screening tool for obesity; (b) preference for method of receipt of BMI information; and (c) parental perceptions of the school's role in prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Method: This cross sectional, descriptive study used convenience sampling. Participants were parents of elementary school age children attending a suburban school. An anonymous survey "Parental perceptions of Body Mass Index and obesity in the school age child" was adapted from a previously used instrument. The survey and attached introductory letter were placed in the mail folders of all children attending the latchkey program. Parents returned the survey to a sealed box at the site. Results: Of the 507 surveys distributed and received by parents, 117 surveys were returned, yielding a 23% response rate. Participants were typically female, 40 years old or younger, white, had two school age children, and a college graduate with a BMI between 17.8 and 24.9 kg/m2. Parents in this study who were male and had lower educational status had significantly higher BMIs. The majority of participants identified inactivity, poor eating behavior, lack of parental control in what children eat, and eating too much as the main causes of childhood obesity. The preferred method of receiving information about their child's BMI from the school was via a letter from the school nurse (67.5%). Parents agreed that physical education classes should be present in schools (99.1%) as well as units on nutrition and weight control (82.8%). Parents also supported eliminating junk food machines and offering special low calorie meals. Conclusions: Parents demonstrated support for school intervention in the obesity epidemic. School and public health nurses can use this information to advocate for physical education classes, health curriculum on nutrition and weight control, reducing the amount of junk food that is available, and offering special low calorie meals. Furthermore, school nurses should focus on the parents' desire to receive their child's BMI information in a letter from the nurse. Forming a parent/school nurse/administrator group to draft an appropriate letter may increase acceptance. Additional research should be conducted which addresses the outcomes of sending such letters home. School and public health nurses are in a prime position to collect data in their school districts to determine parental preferences and beliefs regarding BMI and childhood obesity.

Download or read book Parents Perceptions of Body Mass Index Screening of Children and Adolescents in the School Setting written by Sharon Schmitz and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book An Investigation of Parents Perceptions of BMI and BMI for age School Based BMI Screening Programs and BMI Report Cards written by Dominique Grace Ruggieri and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: School-based body mass index (BMI) screenings seek can improve parents' recall about their child's weight, increase concern about excess weight, and correct parents' misperceptions to help them make informed decisions about their child's health. However, schools have questioned parents' understanding of and attitudes about BMI, and have expressed concern about parents' reactions to BMI reports. Using a sample of school nurses (n=7) and parents/guardians (n=125) from the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), this research addressed these concerns by clarifying: 1) parents'/guardians' perceptions and knowledge about BMI; 2) the challenges schools face in communicating with parents/guardians; and 3) the messages that can be communicated to parents/guardians to help them understand their child's BMI-for-age category and why their child's BMI is measured in his/her school. The research used framing theory and perceptual mapping methods to study and improve communication about BMI to parents/guardians in the School District. The four-phase study design incorporated qualitative (focus groups and semi-structured in-depth interviews) and quantitative (cross-sectional survey) methods to assist in the development of an evidence-informed BMI report card template for the SDP. Messages were constructed to meet the needs of four distinct groups of parents/guardians that emerged from the factor and cluster analyses - "Passive Parents," "Neutral Parents," "Confident Advocates" and "Active Worriers." Although each cluster of parents/guardians had their own unique perceptions and varying degrees of assuredness and confidence related to BMI concepts, the majority of parents/guardians in this study shared common favorable perceptions about BMI measures, school-based screening programs and BMI report cards.

Download or read book The Meaning of School Body Mass Index BMI Screening and Referral to the Parents guardians of First Third and Sixth Grade Students written by Mary Louise Jorda and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: screening and referral to parents. The goal of school BMI screening and referral is to provide information to compel parents to change their child's diet and activity levels when overweight and obesity are identified. Measuring BMI in schools and alerting parents to findings above what is considered normal is one intervention to reduce overweight and obesity that has been utilized since 2001 in Florida. To determine the meaning of BMI screening and referral to parents a mixed methods approach was utilized. Voluntary interviews of 20 parents who had received BMI referrals for their children were conducted. Analysis of the interviews was guided by phenomenology, as delineated by van Manen (1997). A cross sectional survey developed by Ruggieri (2012), was distributed to measure parent beliefs and opinions regarding the BMI screening and their reaction to referrals. Findings from interviews indicated that parents ascribe different meaning to school BMI screening and referral. Overarching themes of changing and reflecting were discovered. The themes were manifested as dichotomies; some parents reflected on their role as parent and were more satisfied with the process; they reported change of diet and activity for their families upon receipt of a BMI referral. Others reflected on the role of the school in their child's life. They were more dissatisfied with the school screening and recommended changes in the screening and referral process. Suggested changes for school screening and referrals included subthemes: sensitivity, accuracy, privacy, and notification. Parents responded in the survey that they would change diet and activity for their families if they were told by the school that their child had a weight issue. Actions taken upon receipt of a BMI referral were not limited to changing diet and activity levels but also included discussing weight with their child and others. Parents denied they would be offended by a BMI referral. School BMI screening and referral is a valuable and effective intervention to address child overweight and obesity, especially if the process is accomplished with characteristics that parents deem caring.

Download or read book Elementary School Nurses Perceptions and Practices Regarding Body Mass Index Measurement in School Children written by Candace H. Hendershot and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Obesity written by Shamim I. Ahmad and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-10-19 with total page 375 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book brings a comprehensive treatise about obesity, examining the measures that can be taken to stop and even reduce obesity if these right measures are taken in time. Recent studies show that obesity is on the increase at an alarming rate, especially in the industrialized and affluent countries. A number of reasons have been put forward for this increase, including life style choices, over-eating, over-use of commercially processed food, addiction for fast food, high caloric diet specially containing high levels of sugar and fat, lack of exercise and sedentary life style. Also genetic make up has been associated with obesity. Obesity can lead to a variety of lethal diseases, notably coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes. These diseases account for the highest number of human death amongst all other causes. There are also a number of other side effects associated with obesity including increased stress, loss of intelligentsia, pancreatitis, premature birth and osteoarthritis. In recent years media have been playing important roles in highlighting the lethality and damage caused by obesity, nevertheless no significant effects can be seen in the population and obesity remains on the increase, especially amongst children. The editors believe that it is important that more education, campaign and research are used to stop this increasing disease.

Download or read book Textbook of Obesity written by Sharon R. Akabas and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-05-08 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Textbook of Obesity is designed to cover all of the essential elements concerning the etiology, prevention and treatment of obesity suitable for students in nutrition, dietetics and health science courses. Providing core knowledge for students is an essential and urgent requirement to ensure that those graduating will be properly equipped to deal with the high prevalence of overweight and obesity, currently affecting almost two-thirds of the population of the USA and with prevalence in much of the rest of the world rapidly catching up. This landmark text is organized into 5 parts comprising 27 chapters, each carefully written in a user-friendly style by experts in the area. Part I helps the reader to understand the scope and complexity of the problem of obesity. Part II focuses on obesity etiology. Part III examines the health consequences of obesity for both children and adults. Part IV discusses the challenge of assessing obesity in humans and offers insights into community factors that influence the risk of obesity. Finally, Part V dedicates 13 chapters to a discussion of a wide variety of obesity prevention and treatment interventions that are currently in use. Textbook of Obesity is an essential purchase for students and the many health professionals dealing with obesity on a day-to-day basis. A dedicated companion website features an extensive bank of questions and answers for readers to test their understanding, and all of the book's illustrations for instructors to download: www.wiley.com/go/akabas/obesity

Download or read book Parental Perception of Their Child s Weight Status written by Laura M. Agresta and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Obesity is a growing problem among children. This study explored parents perceptions of their child's weight status, as defined by body mass index (BMI). Methods: Parents of children aged 3-5 years old were surveyed regarding their perception of their child's weight status. Information was also gathered including child's exercise frequency, and physician involvement. Parents provided subjects height and weight. Results: Of the 69 subjects in this sample, 53.6 of parents accurately perceived their child's weight status. All 27 overweight or obese children were misclassified by parents as normal or underweight. 14.81 of these parents were a little or concerned with their childs weight status. Conclusion: Parental awareness and concern about obesity and its associated health risks must be raised in order to encourage healthy lifestyles in their children. Further research is necessary to determine the most effective approach to increase parental awareness on childhood obesity.

Download or read book Focus Groups written by Graham R. Walden and published by Scarecrow Press. This book was released on 2009-10-01 with total page 443 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Physicians, health researchers, and nurses make extensive use of focus groups. Thus, researchers and readers need access to the realm of applications of focus group methodology in the wide variety of medical and health sciences. In this second installment of a two-volume examination of ten recent years (1998-2007) of focus group studies and research literature, author Graham R. Walden turns his attention from the arts, humanities, and non-medical sciences to the medical and health sciences, concentrating on a broad range of studies in books, book chapters, and journal articles that are available in English. Focus Groups, Volume II: A Selective Annotated Bibliography: Medical and Health Sciences covers over 500 articles on a multitude of topics in the medical and health sciences, such as the health profession and the practice of medicine, public health, and several different bodily systems and types of diseases. The annotations in this bibliography describe the content of a source document to help the reader discern whether pursuit of the full text is appropriate or desirable. This book offers significant benefits to all medical personnel; graduate and undergraduate students; professional focus group practitioners; and individuals seeking increased awareness of studies that have been conducted in the health arena.

Download or read book Associations Among African American Parent Education Perceptions Behaviors and Child Weight Status written by Tracey Marie Barnett and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Purpose: Obesity in children and adolescents is a worldwide epidemic that is anticipated to worsen over time (Budd & Volpe, 2006; Chatterjee, Blakely, & Barton, 2005; Hossain, Kawar, & El Nahas, 2007). Within the past 30 years, the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States has more than doubled among children and quadrupled in adolescents (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014). People often have inaccurate perceptions of their body size and weight status and this may play a key role in the prevalence of obesity especially for ethnic minorities (Gillard, Lackland, Mountfored, & Egan, 2007; Hendley, et al., 2011). In order to combat child obesity, it is imperative for future research to explore the phenomenon of parent education, behaviors, perceptions and the impact on child weight status within a strong theoretical conceptual model. The purpose of this dissertation is to build a theoretical conceptual model and testable model to understand the associations among African American parent education, behaviors, and perceptions of their child's body size and the impact on their child's weight status. Methods: The School Physical Activity and Nutrition survey (SPAN) was developed using a repeated cross-sectional study design to estimate changes in body mass index (BMI) by three major racial/ethnic groups (African Americans, Hispanics, and whites/others) in Texas public school children (Hoelscher, Day, Lee, Frankowski, Kelder, Ward & Scheurer, 2003). For this study, only African American 4th grade students (n=372) and their parents (n=372) will be used. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, multiple regression, moderation, and mediation analysis. Results: Findings suggest that a parent's level of education had a direct impact on health knowledge and discrimination. Parent perceptions of their child's body size was directly associated with child weight status, but parent weight status moderated this relation. The number of children living in the home had a direct impact socioeconomic status (SES), SES had a direct impact on stress, and stress had a direct impact on parenting rules and discipline. The more physical activity parents did with their children, the lower their child's weight status, however, parent weight status mediated this relation. Lastly, as the consumption of more healthy foods increased, so did the child's weight status. Implications: The findings of this study offer a comprehensive picture of how parent education, perceptions and behaviors impact child weight status. These results highlight suggested areas that may be used by social work practitioners, researchers, and policy makers when working African American parents and their children. This study also suggests a final robust theoretical conceptual model of theory and evidence-based literature to guide future research.

Download or read book The Body Size and Health Debate written by Christine L. B. Selby and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2017-10-27 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Has the connection between body size and overall health been overstated for decades? This book examines how our dogged efforts to eradicate obesity may be doing more harm than good and explores alternative ways to measure and encourage health. It's fair to say that Americans are obsessed with body size and weight—whether it's in the name of health and disease prevention or the idealization of unrealistically thin proportions. But trying to lose weight and drop clothing sizes is healthy, right? Or is it not healthy, in many cases? In this book, the latest in Greenwood's Health and Medical Issues Today series, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Certified Sport Psychology Consultant Christine L. B. Selby, PhD, examines the often confusing information—and misinformation—that exists on obesity and its connection to overall health. She provides a broad examination of this timely topic, addressing the rate of obesity in the United States, questioning the appropriateness of BMI to gauge overall health and well-being, discussing controversies related to weight and health including excessive dieting, and providing real-world scenarios that clearly illustrate major concepts related to weight and health. The book also summarizes a relatively new and still controversial approach to improving well-being that takes the focus off the number on the scale. But can individuals really be happy and healthy at any size

Download or read book Exploring the Effects of BMI Health Report Card Letters Among 6th Grade Students and Parents written by Jenna M. Kaczmarski and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ABSTRACT: In response to the growing child and adolescent obesity epidemic, some states and local school authorities are mandating the measurement of Body Mass Index (BMI). However, there is limited research addressing whether schools are an appropriate setting and the intended as well as unintended effects of sharing this information with parents. Furthermore, there is yet to be conclusive evidence that shows that BMI screening in the school setting is an effective way to improve student BMI status. Therefore, the purpose of this research study was to explore the effects of BMI Health Report Card Letters among 6th grade students and their parents by applying a Social Cognitive Theory conceptual framework. A non-experimental, post - test only study design involving child/parent dyads was employed to answer the proposed research questions. Quantitative data were gathered from students and parents using separate theory based questionnaires. Key results include a statistically significant difference between delivery methods (mail vs. backpack) for the number parents who confirmed receiving the BMI letter (p = .001) and reading the BMI letter (p = .005). Additionally, there were statistically significant differences between parents based on child BMI categories. Specifically, a greater number of parents of children "at risk of overweight" or "overweight" took one or more action to control their child's weight associated with food restriction (p = .005) and physical activity (p

Download or read book Longitudinal Changes in Body Mass Index in Kindergarten and Third Graders Attending Urban Cincinnati Public Schools written by Adrienne Found and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 33 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Background. Body mass index (BMI) screenings in schools are a useful tool in tracking the prevalence of childhood obesity in a population. Following children over time, provides a longitudinal assessment of their body weight status. Objective. To determine the incidence and track childhood overweight and obesity in children measured in kindergarten and third grade. Sample. Eight hundred and fifty one children who attended urban, inner-city public school (Cincinnati). The sample included a near equal distribution of boys and girls, was 60% African American and 65% of the children attended schools with low participation in National School Lunch Program (

Download or read book Parents Perceptions of Curricular Issues Affecting Children s Weight in Elementary Schools written by Judy Murnan and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Incorporation of the Body Mass Index BMI Into a School based Health Screening Program written by Janet M. Hawkinson and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This project incorporated the use of the body mass index (BMI) into early childhood (preschool) screening and annual school-based health screening ... This project describes the implementation, evaluation, and recommendations for utilizing the BMI as a screening tool in school-based health screening."--Leaf 4.

Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Prevention in Counseling Psychology written by Elizabeth Vera and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2012-10-18 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Oxford Handbook of Prevention in Counseling Psychology presents a lifespan approach to prevention that emphasizes strengths of individuals and communities, integrates multicultural and social justice perspectives, and includes best practices in the prevention of a variety of psychological problems in particular populations.