Annotated bibliography

 

Area one: Issues – Obesity, exercise, body image

 

Min, J., Yan, A. F., Wang, V. H., & Wang, Y. (2018). Obesity, body image, and its impact

on children's eating and exercise behaviours in China: A nationwide longitudinal

study. Preventive medicine, 106, 101-106.

 

 The article provides an insight into obesity, body image, and its effect on children. Recent research and studies have found that the prevalence of obesity in China is high and the vulnerable population is children aged 7-18 years. The big problem is that parents, children, and grandparents have a negative perception of the body image.  For example, they believe that boys should be 'chubby' whereas girls should be 'slim'. This indicates that boys strive to gain muscles whereas girls strife to gain thinness. Parents encourage children to eat a healthy diet and to exercise regularly to reduce weight. However, children are unable to meet their goals due to low self-esteem. The article targets children who suffer from obesity and concludes that weight control and a healthy diet will prevent obesity but it should be accompanied by self-motivation. This indicates that the international program should focus on self-motivation which will increase self-esteem and ultimately improve weight.

 

Kraak, V. A., Liverman, C. T., & Koplan, J. P. (Eds.). (2005). Preventing childhood obesity:

health in the balance. National Academies Press.

 

The book examines the issue of childhood obesity and the action plan toward addressing the issue.  Kraak et al. (2015) assert that most children have a higher Body Mass Index which is contributed by excess body fat. Childhood obesity leads to negative health consequences such as low self-esteem, depression, elevated blood pressure, increased lipids, and more. The article communicates to the government agencies, health-care providers, and other stakeholders that they should target the vulnerable population and come up with health-related prevention actions to avoid the occurrence of obesity. The article also states that the prevention actions should be based on educating the children as well as the community about childhood obesity. The authors conclude that the action plan should not only focus on changing the child's eating behaviours but it should also address the individual's factors that contribute to obesity.

 

 

 

Clarke, J., Fletcher, B., Lancashire, E., Pallan, M., & Adab, P. (2013). The views of

stakeholders on the role of the primary school in preventing childhood obesity: a

qualitative systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 14(12), 975-988.

 

This article examines the issue of childhood obesity and affirms that childhood obesity is a serious issue facing the world in the 21st century.  For example, data derived from the National Child Measurement program showed that young children suffer from obesity and the prevalence is increasing to involve older age groups. This indicates that this is an issue that needs long-term interventions. The main purpose of this article is to discuss the role of the school setting in promoting health behaviours and preventing childhood obesity. In talking about the school setting, the article puts it clear that stakeholders such as the school board, students, school staff, parents, and others in this setting should be at the forefront to improve child health and well-being.

 

Natale, R., Scott, S. H., Messiah, S. E., Schrack, M. M., Uhlhorn, S. B., & Delamater, A.

(2013). Design and methods for evaluating an early childhood obesity prevention

program in the childcare center setting. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 78.

 

The article examines the role of a child care setting in preventing obesity. The article states that children aged five years and below are vulnerable to obesity. This indicates that preschool-aged children are affected than other age groups. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, asthma, stroke, and other chronic diseases. The article asserts that the best period to prevent obesity in children is the first years of life. This is because, during infancy, children will learn about health and nutrition, and lifestyle behaviours. The article adds an important point that preventing efforts should be implemented in homes since adults influence children's attitudes and behaviour on matters related to food and nutrition. Therefore, nutrition educators in the school setting, and adults at home should act as the change agents in preventing obesity among young children.

Rees, R., Oliver, K., Woodman, J., & Thomas, J. (2009). Children’s views about obesity,

body size, shape and weight: a systematic review. London: EPPI Centre.

 

The purpose of this article is to find out children's perception of obesity and body image, and how the issue might be addressed. The research finds that children who have obesity develop physical and psychological problems. They dislike their body size and they become upset with their appearance. They avoid social situations due to the fear and shame that people will laugh at them. Society stigmatizes obese people and as a result, they develop a more negative body image and end up suffering from mental problems. The article concludes that parents and professionals should be at the forefront to implement intervention not only for preventing obesity but also to help the children develop self-esteem, and combat discriminatory behaviours toward them.

 

Area two: Issues – Sexuality education and child protective behaviours

 

Hernandez, B. F., Peskin, M., Shegog, R., Markham, C., Johnson, K., Ratliff, E. A., ... &

Tortolero, S. R. (2011). Choosing and Maintaining Programs for Sex Education in

Schools: The CHAMPSS Model. Journal of Applied Research on

Children, 2(2), 7.

 

On sexual education, Hernanez et al. (2011) emphasize the importance of evidence-based practices in managing risky sexual behaviours. According to the articles, the teen birth rate is high in Texas and this indicates that strategies to prevent teen pregnancy should be implemented.  The article asserts that the White House proposed evidence-based practices since they are rigorously evaluated and secondly, they are highly effective. There is evidence that research-based practices reduce teen pregnancy sexual behaviours and increase positive behaviours. Thus, the purpose of this article is to examine the evidence-based practices and how a school setting should implement to prevent teen pregnancy. In general, the articles conclude that sex education in schools plays a vital role in preventing teen pregnancy and therefore schools should implement a sexual education program and evidence-based practices.

 

 

 

 

 

Tabong, P. T. N., Maya, E. T., Adda-Balinia, T., Kusi-Appouh, D., Birungi, H., Tabsoba,

P., & Adongo, P. B. (2018). Acceptability and stakeholders perspectives on

feasibility of using trained psychologists and health workers to deliver

school-based sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents in

urban Accra, Ghana. Reproductive health, 15(1), 122.

 

 The articles examine the need of employing trained psychologists to educate the students on risky sexual behaviours. Teenagers do not access reproductive and sexual health education and the lack of access drives them toward unhealthy sexual behaviours. It is argued that teenagers engage in sexual behaviours due to the psychological factor. This indicates that psychologists and health care providers should be at the forefront to address this problem. Stakeholders such as students, teachers, parents, and school boards agree that current approaches or strategies to address the issue of sexual behaviour are not effective and the best solution is to employ trained psychologists to join the school-setting and offer sexuality education to teenagers. Before arriving into the conclusion, the articles reveal the programs have been designed to meet the needs of young people but these programs and commitments remain inadequate. Thus, the articles give an insight into the comprehensive sexuality education which is not only an education program but is scientifically accurate, and  culturally relevant.

 

 

Jin, Y., Chen, J., Jiang, Y., & Yu, B. (2017). Evaluation of a sexual abuse prevention

education program for school-age children in China: a comparison of teachers and

parents as instructors. Health education research, 32(4), 364-373.

 

In this article, it is clearly stated that child sexual abuse is a health problem that contribute to risky sexual behaviours, and mental and physical problems. It gives information on the effectiveness of a school-based prevention program in providing children with knowledge and skills on sexual abuse prevention. I will use the articles to support why sexuality education in school is important in creating a sensitive environment for children.

 

Women, U. N., & UNICEF. (2018). International technical guidance on sexuality education:

an evidence-informed approach. UNESCO Publishing.

 

Women, U.N, and UNICEF collaborate to examine the issues facing young learners and come up with constructive means to address their needs. The stakeholders review the curricular frameworks and find that comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) should be delivered in the school setting to provide children from an early age with knowledge and skills of risky sexual behaviours. The book puts emphasizes on the age and development to affirm that educators should understand cognitive and emotional development and use the relevant topics in support of students' learning.