CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT: ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITION IN CHILDREN

CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT: ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITION IN CHILDREN

Child Health Case: Obesity

The United States is currently facing an unprecedented rise in the number of obese children, and this almost always boils down to the nutrition that these children are exposed to. In the case presented above, the 8-year-old overweight male foster child faces many nutrition-related health risks due to his weight status. Noticeably, the child is likely consuming too many calories and not getting enough physical activity, leading to excess weight gain (Stanford & Fitch, 2019). In addition, his biological parents’ overweight status suggests genetic factors that could also heighten his risk for obesity-related diseases. From a nutrition point of view, it is important to evaluate the child’s current eating habits and identify areas where changes need to be made to promote healthier choices. Doing this will involve reducing the consumption of high-calorie and low-nutrient foods, increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables, and ensuring adequate protein intake to support growth and development (Backstrom, 2019)) case study assignment: assessment of nutrition in children. Regular physical activity is also important for improving the child’s health and reducing the risk of complications associated with excess weight. More importantly, it is important to address any underlying emotional or psychological factors contributing to the child’s weight status, such as stress or depression. Taking a comprehensive approach that addresses both nutrition and mental health would enable healthcare providers to alleviate the child’s health and ultimately help him achieve a healthy weight and reduce his risk of developing obesity-related health problems. 

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 Response to Case Questions

 Health Issues and Risks

The child is exposed to a handful of risks because of his condition. Wright and Kupietzky (2018) have written that obesity in children like the case of the little boy exposes them to the risk of developing various health issue of the major healthcare risks include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint problems, and mental health problems such as low self-esteem and depression. Given that the child is already overweight, it is likely that he already struggles to engage in physical activities and requiring him to further participate in these activities will put further strain on him. Further to this, the inability to engage in physical activities isolates the boy from his peers who, at their age, tend to be very active. Argisolation is also likely to manifestifested in poor performances in class as the child deals with seclusion, low self-esteem and lack of confidence (Faintuch & Faintuch, 2020). The risk of the highlighted health issues are further exacerbated if there is a family history of obesity-related diseases case study assignment: assessment of nutrition in children. With this in mind, it is important to address the child’s weight status as early as possible to prevent further complications and to encourage healthy habits that can continue into adulthood.

Additional Information Needed

From a medical point of view, the above case is not sufficient to fully understand the plight of the child and there is, therefore, need to further information. Drawing from this, some of the relevant information that would come in handy regarding the foster child is the current weight and height measurements, body mass index (BMI), family history of obesity-related diseases, eating habits, physical activity level, and any medical conditions or medications that could contribute to his weight gain. Faintuch J and Faintuch S (2020) suggested that in such a case, a thorough evaluation of these factors would be beneficial in helping identify any underlying health issues and inform the development of an appropriate treatment plan.

Potential Risks to Consider

There are many risks that an obese child is presented with and these are briefly mentioned in previous sections. However, other risks associated with this child’s health include genetic factors, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and environmental factors such as living in a neighborhood without safe outdoor play areas (Wright & Kupietzky, 2018). For one to gain a full understanding of the child’s health, it is important to gather information about his emotional well-being, family dynamics, and cultural background. Doing this would be helpful in impacting his eating habits and attitudes towards physical activity. As a clinical practitioner or healthcare provider, such information could be gathered through sensitive interviews with the child, his caregivers, and any other relevant family members or healthcare providers.

Specific Questions to Ask

Healthcare providers, caregivers and clinicians must, in the course of gathering information about a patient, the 8 year old foster child in this case, be sensitive to the parents’ and caregiver’s potential sensitivities (Backstrom, 2019)). This is important because it creates a safe and supportive environment for communication and collaboration. The parents or caregiver may feel judged or criticized if they perceive the healthcare provider as being critical of their parenting or their child’s weight leading them to become defensive or resistant to any recommendations or interventions suggested by the healthcare provider. Acknowledging their potential sensitivities and concerns, healthcare providers effectively build trust and rapport with the family. Ultimately, showing concern and being sensitive helps establish a positive and productive working relationship that promotes better outcomes for the child. Drawing from this, the specific questions that could be asked in a sensitive manner include:

1. What kinds of foods does the child like to eat?
2. How does the child feel about his weight?

• Are there any cultural or family traditions related to food or physical activity that could affect the child’s health?

These questions would be invaluable in providing insights into the child’s habits and attitudes towards food and physical activity, allowing healthcare providers to tailor recommendations to the child’s unique needs.

Strategies to Encourage the Parents to be Proactive

Encouraging parents or caregivers to be proactive about their child’s health and weight is admittedly very challenging. Stanford and Fitch (2019) have proposed that effective strategies that could work include the provision of education about the risks of childhood obesity and the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity. A second strategy that could be applied is the provision of key resources such as healthy meal plans or exercise programs. The latter would involve the active participation of the child in the decision-making process which would allow them to set goals and track progress towards a healthier lifestyle case study assignment: assessment of nutrition in children.

 References

Backstrom, L. (2019). Weighty Problems: Embodied Inequality at a Children’s Weight Loss Camp. Rutgers University Press.

Faintuch, J., & Faintuch, S. (Eds.). (2020). Obesity and diabetes: scientific advances and best practice. Springer International Publishing.

Stanford, F. C., & Fitch, A. K. (2019). Pediatric obesity: a focus on treatment options. Frontiers in pediatrics, 7, 177.

Wright, G. Z., & Kupietzky, A. (Eds.). (2018). Behavior management in dentistry for children. John Wiley & Sons case study assignment: assessment of nutrition in children.

CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT: ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITION IN CHILDREN

When seeking to identify a patient’s health condition, advanced practice nurses can use a diverse selection of diagnostic tests and assessment tools; however, different factors affect the validity and reliability of the results produced by these tests or tools. Nurses must be aware of these factors in order to select the most appropriate test or tool and to accurately interpret the results.

Not only do these diagnostic tests affect adults, body measurements can provide a general picture of whether a child is receiving adequate nutrition or is at risk for health issues. These data, however, are just one aspect to be considered. Lifestyle, family history, and culture—among other factors—are also relevant. That said, gathering and communicating this information can be a delicate process.

For this Assignment, you will  consider examples of children with various weight issues. You will explore how you could effectively gather information and encourage parents and caregivers to be proactive about their children’s health and weight.

TO PREPARE

• Review this week’s Learning Resources and consider factors that impact the validity and reliability of various assessment tools and diagnostic tests. You also will review examples of pediatric patients and their families as it relates to BMI.
  • Based on the risks you might identify consider what further information you would need to gain a full understanding of the child’s health. Think about how you could gather this information in a sensitive fashion.
  • Consider how you could encourage parents or caregivers to be proactive toward the child’s health.
  • case study assignment: assessment of nutrition in children

THE ASSIGNMENT

Assignment (3–4 pages, not including title and reference pages):

Assignment: Child Health Case:
Include the following:

• An explanation of the health issues and risks that are relevant to the child you were assigned.
• Describe additional information you would need in order to further assess his or her weight-related health.
• Identify and describe any risks and consider what further information you would need to gain a full understanding of the child’s health. Think about how you could gather this information in a sensitive fashion.
• case study assignment: assessment of nutrition in children
• Taking into account the parents’ and caregivers’ potential sensitivities, list at least three specific questions you would ask about the child to gather more information.
• Provide at least two strategies you could employ to encourage the parents or caregivers to be proactive about their child’s health and weight.

BY DAY 6 OF WEEK 3

Submit your Assignment.

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