Significant Problem Statement:

Obesity crisis is at an epidemic level and has been indiscriminately implicating the most vulnerable and treasured group of our nation, the American children and teens. Childhood obesity is currently at a 17%, and has been increasing for the past three decades at an alarming rate (Prentice-Dunn, & Prentice-Dunn, 2012). Obesity is directly linked to many chronic and deadly health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes type II, metabolic syndrome, respiratory issues, cancer, stroke and mental illnesses like Depression (Kahan, & McKenzie, 2015).

Research Background:

Obesity has multiple determinants arising from social behavior and environment and in order to respond to this crises, often great many researches have been focused on the effects of family, governmental policies, community environment, and health and wealth disparities in order to address the obesity problem. Consequently, limited attention and focus were given by research studies about school based intervention strategies such as increased physical activity requirement and healthy diet education. Schools are not putting emphasis on obesity issues as such priority is placed on developing proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics activities (Suarez-Balcazar, Friesema, & Lukyanova, 2013). Currently there is limited information available to stakeholders about the effectiveness of school based physical activities and health education about the American children and adolescents in United States.

Research Study Purpose:

The purpose of this paper is to do a fact finding research that examines the effectiveness of the current school based intervention strategies such as physical activity and health education in lowering the obesity rate among American children. The sincere desire to pursue this study, besides the school project requirement, was motivated by the ever rising obesity rate and its health consequences among the American children and adolescents.

Research question

In school age children and adolescents who receive school based interventions of physical activity and health education vs children and adolescents community based reduce obesity within 6 months?

Research Sampling Method:

Nonprobability Sampling Methods: Purposive Sampling. In this type of sampling, researcher is able to consciously select certain participants, age groups, and diverse economical groups which in this study ascertains accuracy of generalization among the general school age population (Grove, Burns & Gray, 2013 p. 365)

Research Design:

The research design chosen is quantitative descriptive design. This study design allows to observe students in their own natural school environment as they perform the physical activity and health education required for their PE class in order to measure its effectiveness of school based interventions. We will measure their body mass index BMI before and after the study to see for changes. Groups are not compared, as such, there will be no intervention introduced or no variables manipulated. Descriptive studies can yield rich data that lead to important recommendations in practice. (USC Libraries, 2016).

Independent variable= physical activity and health education which is not manipulated but observed naturally as they perform in school based environment during PE class.

Dependent variable= Overweight and obesity which will be measured by BMI by comparing before the exercise and after exercise within 6 months.

Sample size:

Actual total participants after exclusions 110 members

Qualified total participants 120 members.

Exclusions: 10 members (3 had asthma, 2 had diabetes, 1 had sleep apnea, 3 had different physical injuries from prior sports, and 1 who decided to withdraw).

Acceptance rate of 92%.

Theoretical Framework

Values, beliefs and norms have the biggest part to count when it comes to determining the perceptions towards any ailment. Madeleine Leininger’s Trans – cultural nursing theory perfectly tries to prove this point by extending the cultural dimension beyond the normal perception by individuals (Margaret, 2012).

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Posted on May 12, 2016Author TutorCategories Question, Questions