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Running head: OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 1

Obesity in Adolescents

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Professor

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Date

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 2

Obesity in Adolescents

A1. Healthcare Problem

Overweight and obesity are the cause reason for death in the United States. Obesity is one

of the chronic illnesses that any adolescent child with eating habits which are very poor can

easily be affected by it. Following the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a ratio

of 1:5 US kids who are above six years and below nineteen are obese or overweight (Danielsson,

Kowalski, Ekblom, & Marcus 2012). This means that obesity is one of the major concerns for

the nation and which calls for urgent measures to be put in place. There are various causes of

obesity in adolescents. Though obesity is considered to be a perplexing illness from the

numerous points of view, being obese increases depending on the type of food they eat (MSD

Manual n.d.). This is often true when the food contains more calories than they consume as

energy, therefore, the causes depends on various factors such as metabolic factors, genetics,

lifestyle and socioeconomic.

A2. Significance of Problem

The problem of obesity among adolescent is a significant issue in society and which have

promoted a lot of research on the topic (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal 2014). This is based on the

fact that the adolescents that are obese are more likely to develop new health problems such as

diabetes and even suffer from heart problems. The implication of these is the increased risks of

fatalities and increased mortality rates (Kantomaa, Stamatakis, Kankaanpää, Kaakinen,

Rodriguez, Taanila & Tammelin 2013). As such, addressing the problem when it is in the early

stages is considered important to prevent current and future problems that may result in the use

of a lot of resources in helping the affected people. The problem also affects the productivity of

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 3

individuals especially after they develop additional problems. Therefore, it calls for the attention

of all stakeholders to address this issue among adolescents.

A3. Current Practice

In the modern society, the steps that have been taken to address the issue of obesity in

adolescents is that schools have developed nutritional or feeding programs to offer food in

schools and help children stop eating junk foods. This has been seen as a major step towards

addressing the issue (Kantomaa et al. 2013). Additionally, the development of the curriculum to

involve sports has been essential in addressing the issue. These help to ensure that children are

engaged in physical activities that help to maintain their weight and prevent obesity. Provision of

medication is also seen as part of the current practice for the adolescents so that they can get

better (Lee, Harris, & Lee 2013).

A4. Impact on Background

The impact on the background of this condition is that it has resulted in the use of more

resources to address the problem. However, the issue has been developing a plan that will ensure

that children always eat healthy foods. Besides, this problem also means that parents need

education and sensitization to ensure that they care for the children (Kantomaa et al. 2013).

B. PICO Table

Example:

P(patient/problem)

Obesity in Adolescents

I(intervention/indicator)

Vigorous physical activities

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 4

C(comparison)

A change in diet

O(outcome)

Weight reduction

B1. PICO Question

For obesity in adolescents (P) is engaging them in vigorous physical activities (I) compared to a

change in their diet (C) more effective in reducing weight (O)?

C1. Keywords

The search strategy that was employed is a literature review whereby previous works and

articles on the topic were researched. The process involved looking at different articles, those

that are research articles and the non-research articles to have a comparison of the information

presented regarding the topic. In conducting the research on this topic and in trying to answer the

PICO question, the following are the keywords that were used on the internet and Google

Scholar. These include “Obesity in adolescents,” “Prevalence of obesity in adolescents,”

“physical activities,” “overweight” as well as “adolescents and obesity.”

C2. Number and Types of Articles

The research on the internet using the term Obesity in adolescents provided 77,900,000

results within 0.45 seconds. Also, to ensure that the study focused more on the US, the search

term Obesity in adolescents in the US was used and which provided 71,200,000 results in about

0.67 seconds. In the case of Google Scholar, it provided 18,300 results in about 0.07 seconds

with a custom range of article between the year 2013 and 2018 to ensure the most current

information is obtained. The articles found on the internet through Google included sources from

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 5

government sites, different organizational sites and well as common websites. Also, the articles

found on Google Scholar were major scholarly researched articles with a few being books.

C2a. Research and Non-Research Evidence

The search resulted in many articles, some research while others were non-research. In

this case, the research articles included;

i. LeBlanc, A. G., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Barreira, T. V., Broyles, S. T., Chaput, J. P.,

Church, T. S., ... & Kurpad, A. (2015). Correlates of total sedentary time and screen

time in 9–11 year-old children around the world: the international study of childhood

obesity, lifestyle and the environment. PloS one, 10(6), e0129622. Retrieved from

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0129622

ii. Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2014). Prevalence of

childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. Jama, 311(8), 806-814.

Retrieved from

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1832542?wptouch_preview_theme

=enabled

The non-research articles found included:

i. https://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/25/opinion/wann-obesity-disease/index.html

ii. https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/children-s-health-issues/problems-in-

adolescents/obesity-in-adolescents

Running head: OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 6

D. Evidence Matrix

Author

Journal

Name/

WGU

Library

Year of

Publication

Research

Design

Sample Size

Outcome

Variables

Measure

Level (I–III)

Quality (A, B, C)

Results/Author’s

Suggested

Conclusions

LeBlan

Katzm

arzyk,

Barreir

Broyle,

Chaput

Church

, &

Kurpad

PloS one

2015

Cross-

sectional

study

5,844

children

With 45.6%

as boys, and

the mean age

as 10.4 years

Depende

variable,

body

weight,

while

independ

ent

variable

included

the

activities

involved,

eating

habits.

Level III

Behavioral

interventions,

removal of items

such as TV from

bedrooms, and

physical exercise

Ogden,

Carroll

, Kit,

Flegal

Jama

2014

Cross-

sectional

study

9120

participants

Depende

variable

is weight

and

height

Independ

ent

variable

is time

Level III

Obesity prevalence

is still high; hence,

need for further and

continued

surveillance.

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 7

Marily

Wann

CNN

News

Article

2013

Opinion

None

Level VII

Self-acceptance is

important and that

being fat should not

be seen as a disease

Sharon

Levy

MSD

Manuals

n.d

Opinion

None

Level VII

Healthy eating

habits are important

and should be

encouraged among

adolescents.

Daniel

sson,

Kowal

ski,

Ekblo

m, &

Marcus

Archives

pediatric

s &

adolesce

medicine

2012

Longitudin

observation

al study

643 children

with 49%

being

female

BMI-SD

as the

depended

variable

while the

treatment

method

as the

independ

ent

variable

Level IV

Behavioral

treatment is

effective with

children than with

adolescents.

Lee,

Harris,

& Lee

Journal

of School

Health

2013

Longitudin

al study

Adolescents

in grades 7-

12 as of the

year 1995

Independ

ent

variable

age, sex,

race/ethn

icity,

while the

dependen

variables

BMI

(kg/m

)

Level IV

Schools provide a

better obesity

prevention setting;

hence, the

importance for this

to be used to

prevent obesity at

the early stages.

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 8

Kanto

maa,

Stamat

akis,

Kanka

anpää,

Kaakin

en,

Rodrig

uez,

Taanila

, &

Tamm

Proceedi

ngs of the

National

Academy

Sciences

2013

Longitudin

al study

8,061

children

Academi

achievem

ent as

independ

ent

variable,

while

physical

activities

dependen

variables

Level IV

Motor functions and

physical activities

may impact on

obesity.

Running head: OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 9

E. Recommended Practice Change

For parents and guardians to be able to handle obesity, then they must ensure that; they

urge adolescents to eat only when hungry and gradually, minimize the time spent on both the TV

and the PC. Also, they should be encouraged to take water as the supplement to refreshments that

are sugary (Wann 2013). Besides, they should abstain themselves from using nourishment as a

reward or withholding sustenance as a discipline and give no less than five servings of food

grown from the ground day by day.

F1. Key Stakeholders

The key stakeholders that play a vital role in the obesity of an adolescent include the

federal government, schools, and parents while now the adolescents remain to be the primary

stakeholders (Kantomaa et al. 2013). This is the sense that, they are the one that has to directly

deal with the obesity and both the physical as well as the emotional consequences that obesity is

associated with in life. The parents are the providers of the nutrition and offer the opportunities

for their children to engage in physical activities such as sports at home (Ogden et al. 2014).

They also can monitor the moves of their children.

It is essential to note that parents also act as the role models for their children and how

they bring up the children affects the issue of obesity. When parents develop the culture of eating

healthy and inspire their children to do the same by providing healthy foods, this helps to ensure

that the risk of obesity is minimized (LeBlanc, Katzmarzyk, Barreira, Broyles, Chaput, Church &

Kurpad 2015). The government's role is big in the sense that all the funds that can be used to

build recreational centers, playground as well as bike paths depend on it. Also, the development

of a curriculum that provides room for physical activities in the schools is important (Lee et al.

2013). The school finalizes everything as a key stakeholder in the sense that they can give the

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 10

education that deals with both the physical education as well as the healthy classes that may see

the health of these children having some improvements. Also, through feeding programs, the

schools can work with parents to ensure children eat healthily and engage in physical activities.

F2. Barriers

The major barriers that are faced in addressing the problem of obesity among adolescents

include the fact that issues of culture and beliefs regarding food and eating habits affect how

people respond (Ogden et al. 2014). Additionally, the issue of lack of knowledge and awareness

regarding the impact of too much TV, and video games on the risk of obesity among the

adolescents and their parents is something that influences more cases of obesity (Kantomaa et al.

2013). Besides, a negative attitude and mentality among parents and adolescents affect how the

issue of obesity is dealt with in society.

F3. Strategies for Barriers

Based on the findings made, to overcome the barriers that make it difficult to treat as well

as prevent obesity in the adolescent children, the following strategies must be taken into account

(Ogden et al. 2014). They include coming up with a simple way that is going to enable the

children finds it very easy to change their habits, creating a monitoring tool that will enable

parents to monitor the adolescents’ habits (Kantomaa et al. 2013). Also, coming up with

programs that will facilitate physical training such sports is important. Besides, availing

alternatives to the fast food as well TV and PC that is going to be acceptable to the adolescents is

also required. Moreover, public awareness and sensitization are essential for the adolescents and

parents regarding the benefits of healthy eating are required for them to change their attitude and

mentality (Lee et al. 2013).

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 11

F4. Indicator to Measure Outcome

The indicator that can be used to measure the outcome for the above recommendations

will include a reduction in the consumption of junk foods by adolescents which can be seen

through the reduced sales for such products (LeBlanc et al. 2015). Also, an increase in the

number of adolescents engaged in physical exercise will act as a performance indicator in

measuring the outcome. Finally, a reduction in new cases of obesity being reported will

demonstrate positive outcome and a measure to show that some progress is being made.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a change in diet and engaging in physical activities both have positive

effects on weight loss among adolescents. However, with a change in the diet, it has long-term

impacts on the individuals and those around them. It is something that can also be done even

after one has lost enough weight, unlike physical activities that may seem challenging. Overall, a

change in attitude and mentality regarding healthy eating is required if the issue of obesity

among adolescents is to be eradicated.

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 12

References

Danielsson, P., Kowalski, J., Ekblom, Ö., & Marcus, C. (2012). Response of severely obese

children and adolescents to behavioral treatment. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent

medicine, 166(12), 1103-1108. Retrieved from

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1387375

Kantomaa, M. T., Stamatakis, E., Kankaanpää, A., Kaakinen, M., Rodriguez, A., Taanila, A., ...

& Tammelin, T. (2013). Physical activity and obesity mediate the association between

childhood motor function and adolescents’ academic achievement. Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences, 110(5), 1917-1922. Retrieved from

http://www.pnas.org/content/110/5/1917.long

LeBlanc, A. G., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Barreira, T. V., Broyles, S. T., Chaput, J. P., Church, T. S., ...

& Kurpad, A. (2015). Correlates of total sedentary time and screen time in 9–11 year-old

children around the world: the international study of childhood obesity, lifestyle and the

environment. PloS one, 10(6), e0129622. Retrieved from

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0129622

Lee, H., Harris, K. M., & Lee, J. (2013). Multiple levels of social disadvantage and links to

obesity in adolescence and young adulthood. Journal of School Health, 83(3), 139-149.

Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3731140/

MSD Manual. (n.d.). Obesity in Adolescents - Children's Health Issues. Retrieved from

https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/children-s-health-issues/problems-in-

adolescents/obesity-in-adolescents

OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS 13

Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and

adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. Jama, 311(8), 806-814. Retrieved from

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1832542?wptouch_preview_theme=en

abled

Wann, M. (2013, June 25). Opinion: Fat people say #IAmNotADisease. Retrieved from

https://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/25/opinion/wann-obesity-disease/index.html

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