Health Promotion Activity for Obesity Reduction in Children

Question 1 – Who is your targeted audience and why is
the health issue significant to them?
The targeted audience for this health promotion activity is obese children
between the ages 4 – 11years.This major health issue has affected 24.9%
of Australian children between 2017-2018. Statistics show that obesity
levels are comparative between females and males and these figures
have remained unchanged over the last decade(Australian Bureau of
Statistics 2018).This issue mainly results from a lack of balance between
diet and exercise(Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2017) and is
more prevalent in low socioeconomic groups due to the lack of education
around nutrition (AIWH 2017). Research shows, that 40% of obese
children became obese adults and are at higher risk of developing a
disability or dying at a younger age. (Lakshman et al. 2012). There are
many different diseases associated with obesity including poor mental and
social health, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, kidney disease, diabetes
and dementia(Bull &Willumsen 2019). In order to lower the rates of
obesity in children, it is crucial to educate around the importance of
balancing energy intake and energy output. Establishing healthy habits at
a young age is also crucial in creating a healthy lifestyle that can be
sustained for life.
Question 2– what is your planned health promotion
activity?
Our health promotion activity is called “Decisions”. This activity teaches
children to make healthier choices when available through the traffic light
system.Instilling a healthy relationship with diet and physical activity is
the key to healthy minds and bodies.
Firstly, the children will be educated about the nutritional value of each
food item available to them on the day.
The food options will be placed in green, amber and red categories
allowing children to clearly see the health value of each.
Green group foods are commonly known as “Have plenty”. Amber group is
known as “Select carefully” and the red group is known as “Occasionally”
only foods.
This will be discussed with the children in the audience in detail, so they
are competent in making healthy choices.
Secondly, the children will have an opportunity to create their own “bickie
burger” using the knowledge they have just gained. This is where they
must decide how nutritious they make their burger.
Thirdly, a discussion with the children will held after the bickie burger is
created. We will discuss individual’s choices. The children will then be
given the opportunity to rate their own bickie based on the nutritional
information given previously.
This engaging activity not only teaches children about nutritional values
and how to make healthier choices, it allows them to try new snacks and
appreciate that some healthier options taste just as good.

Q.3....How has advocacy for child, youth and families
been demonstrated in the expo?...................Include 2
references and references should be harvard style..
Advocacy refers to observation, knowledge development and based
on that knowledge recommending the change for the greater good and
support as well. Hence, in this case of the health expo that is the health
promotion for the obesity reduction among the children aged 5 to 11
years, of the community, is based on healthy decision making
(Hubinette
et al. 2017).
The health advocacy here refers to the healthy decision making of
children of 5 to 11 years of age. Here, in the health expo, the health
educators have provided several foods in three groups marked with red,
amber and green colour. These markings are done based on the
nutritional value of foods and let children choose the meal (Dooley
et
al. 2017). It would help in the identification of knowledge of the children
and also help in educating the children, skill development, and informing
the children and family members about healthy habits of eating. This
health promotion and health advocacy program would be conducted in
primary schools, ensuring the environmental conditions are suitable for
this program.
This health advocacy can be done with the help of visual
presentations, empowerment activities targeting the children and their
families. This health promotion program should be easy to understand and
also help the children in understanding the purpose. It would even help in
the knowledge development about the effects of bad habits as well as