HealthCheck Training
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Post-Test
Overview
Health Supervision
- Introduction
- Health History
- Physical Examination
- Screening Services
- Laboratory Tests
- Immunizations
- Health Education
Special Health Issues
- Introduction
- Dental Health
- Overweight and Obesity
- HIV Guidelines
- Child Abuse & Neglect
- Language Barriers
- Early Intervention
Documentation
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Special Health Issues
Overweight and Obesity
The Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation (2010) reports that “the burden of obesity…and the severity of related health conditions…is disproportionately borne by some racial and ethnics groups…for example, obesity is much more common among non-Hispanic black teenagers (29%) than among Hispanic teenagers (17.5%) or non-Hispanic white teenagers (14.5%)”1
Because obesity is difficult to treat, efforts should focus on prevention. The most important strategies for preventing obesity are healthy eating behaviors, regular physical activity, and reduced sedentary activity (e.g., watching television and videotapes, playing computer games). These preventive strategies are part of a healthy lifestyle that should be developed during early childhood.
The goal is to teach and model healthy and positive attitudes toward food and physical activity without emphasizing body weight. Behavioral techniques are needed to encourage healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.
Healthy Eating
Parents need information on how to encourage their child to eat in a healthy manner, beginning when the child is very young. Suggestions include limiting the duration of bottlefeeding; ensuring appropriate use of reduced-fat (2 percent), low-fat (1 percent), and fat-free (skim) milk after 2 years of age; limiting consumption of high-sugar foods (including juices); being aware of portion sizes of foods, especially high-fat and high-sugar foods; limiting the frequency of fast-food meals; and encouraging family members to drink water.
Achieving a modest reduction of fat in the family diet is a good way to prevent excess weight gain. Fat should not be restricted in children younger than 2 years of age; children older than 2 should gradually adopt eating practices so that by age 5 their fat intake is no more than 30 percent of their total calories. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide an eating guide for healthy persons ages 2 years and older.
Physical Activity
Physical activity (approximately 30 minutes) on most, if not all, days of the week is beneficial for people of all ages.11 Health professionals routinely need to discuss physical activity practices with family members and to help them develop ways to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary activity in their lives. Solutions might include playfully chasing young children around the yard or playground, dancing to music before dinner, or riding a stationary bike while watching television.2 Involving children and adolescents in team sports can help build skill levels and self-confidence, foster teamwork, and increase energy expenditures.
