Screening, Education, and Counseling to Address the Obesity Epidemic in Pediatric and Adolescent Populations

Childhood and adolescent obesity are significant public health concerns in the United States, with about 19% of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years being obese. Obesity is associated with several health risks, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health issues. However, in many families there is a significant knowledge deficit in terms of risks and prevention for childhood and adolescent obesity. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project aims to address the gap in knowledge and awareness of childhood and adolescent obesity by implementing a screening, education, and counseling program within the Primary care setting. The project identified overweight and obese young adults between the ages of 12-21 years old, as well as providing education and counseling about co-morbid conditions. A 4-point Likert scale, created by the project leader, was given to participants to assess their baseline knowledge at the beginning of the project. Throughout the duration of the project, we worked to provide participants with strategies necessary for healthy lifestyle modification. The project utilized evidence-based interventions to help the participants learn how to adopt healthier habits, in an effort to increase knowledge about childhood/adolescent obesity, its subsequent co-morbidities, and the importance of continual screening, education, and counseling. The same 4-point Likert scale was given to participants as a post-study comparison. At the conclusion of the program, paired sample t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to analyze study data. The paired samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test showed a significant reduction in BMI over the course of the project; furthermore, physical activity, understanding of balanced nutrition, and health food knowledge significantly increased over the course of the project. The implementation of this project has the potential to increase education, awareness, and may improve health outcomes. Future studies designed to empower families and healthcare providers with knowledge and tools to prevent and manage childhood and adolescent obesity, have the potential to make strides towards a healthier and more equitable society.