Go4Fun Health Program for Childhood Obesity in NSW

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Nursing assignment
Name of the Student
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Introduction
In 21st century childhood obesity is the major public health concern. It is the growing
concern for urban settings in the low and middle income countries. As reported by “World
Health organisation” (WHO) in 2016, the children above five years with obesity comprise of 4.1
million (World Health Organization, 2018). Overweight and obese children are highly likely to
stay overweight in adulthood and develop the non-communicable diseases as a consequence. In
Australia an estimated 20-25% of children are overweight. A quarter of them are observed to be
obese. The number of children with obesity is even higher in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities (Healthdirect.gov.au, 2018). In NSW one in five children of school age are
considered overweight or obese (Daniel & Anagnostellis, 2018). Excess weight and obesity in
childhood are recognised to be the major risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular
disease in adulthood. It is also the risk factor for musculoskeletal conditions and cancer. The
ability to manage the chronic conditions in adulthood decreases by the increasing weight in
childhood. Childhood obesity is also associated with psychological health issues (Sahoo et al.,
2015). It implies for the parents to set right example for their children during early life years.
The assignment deals with the healthy lifestyle program for kids named “Go4Fun” developed for
NSW kids. The assignment discusses the need of the program, implementation and potential
impact of the program and its effectiveness.
Childhood obesity and Go4Fun health program
In NSW one in one in five children are overweight and are vulnerable to cardiovascular
disease and type 2 diabetes. Childhood obesity is also associated with psychological health issues

2NURSING ASSIGNMENT
such as low self esteem and poor self identity. These children are susceptible to obesity in
adulthood upto 20-25% (Aihw.gov.au, 2016). Weight gain and obesity occurs with intake of
high calorie diet and energy drinks. This behaviour exceeds the energy expenditure from the
metabolic process and the physical activity. The cause of the obesity among children attributes to
mainly three factors. It includes diet, active travel and physical activity. Obese children are noted
with physically inactive behaviours such as playing video games, watching television and poor
knowledge of nutrition (Sahoo et al., 2015). This issue calls for immediate action and the
rationale can be explained by the social learning theory proposed by Bandura. According to this
theory children and adults; earn from one another through observation, and modelling. It greatly
influences the behaviours and cognitive aspects of people encompassing memory, attention and
motivation (Cherry, 2011). If the childhood obesity is not addressed, more children in long run
would observe and learn sedentary activities from the obese children. It will eventually increase
the burden of chronic diseases and health care cost. It means that the obesity not only has
negative impact on children health but also on the entire nation (Sahoo et al., 2015). It demands
the parents to take preventive actions to protect the children in early life years. It is because
obesity involves the economic and social impact on families. However, parents are found to have
poor awareness of food and nutrition and its role in child development (Park, Falconer, Viner &
Kinra, 2012). This calls for developing effective health promotion program for obese children
and for supporting their parents. To address this issue, the Go4Fun health program was launched
in 2011 for overweight children in NSW (Nsw.gov.au, 2018).

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Potential impact of Go4Fun on health program
The program is implemented with short term and long term goals. The short term
benefits of the program include improved eating habits, physical activity and decrease in
sedentary behaviours and BMI. The long term benefits include increase in self esteem, improved
concentration, and behaviours, sporting skills and fitness. The children also are befitted by the
improved teamwork and communication skills (Go4Fun, 2018). It is evident that the program is
so designed that it has potential for overall positive impact on the physical, social, emotional and
psychological well being.
The program has the potential to evoke positive health outcomes as it ensures the
fundamental health resources and conditions needed for good health as mentioned by the Ottawa
Charter of health promotion. Three of the conditions met by the program include education,
food and social justice and equity (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 2018). Health
promotion method identified in the Ottawa Charter contains five priority areas. It includes
building the health public policy, creating the supporting environment, strengthening the
community actions, develop personal skills, and reorient health services and moving into the
future. The Go4Fun program for obese children has the potential to address four of these priority
areas mentioned above. The program creates supportive environment, strengthen the community
actions, develop personal skills and help people move into the future.
The health promotion program counteracts the pressure towards harmful factors such as
bad nutrition, low self esteem and physical inactivity. This program helps reduce the risk of
chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, depression, and subsequent mortality by eating
healthy food. In this way the program reduces the inequalities in the health produced by the