Intervention Plan Case Study: Reducing Sugar Intake for a Teenager

This case study examines the issue of high sugar consumption in a 15-year-old rugby player named George, who is concerned about his weight and consumes large amounts of sugary drinks daily. The study identifies the public health concern related to rising sugar intake among children and the need for dietary management. It explores George's eating habits, influenced by his lifestyle and beliefs about energy needs, and applies psychological theories like Piaget's cognitive development and social learning theory to understand his behavior. The aim of the treatment is to educate George about the harms of sugar and encourage healthier food choices, using self-determination theory. An intervention plan is proposed, incorporating behavioral change strategies such as the Rubicon Model of Action Phases, social interaction, self-monitoring, motivational interviewing, and nudging. The plan emphasizes regular monitoring, reassessment, and support from family and professionals to help George reduce his sugar consumption, change his lifestyle, and improve his overall well-being. Desklib provides students with access to similar case studies and solved assignments.

Case Study

CONTENTS
1. BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM.............................................................................1
2. AIM OF TREATMENT.....................................................................................................2
3. INTERVENTION PLAN...................................................................................................2
4. MONITORING AND FOLLOW UP.................................................................................4
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................5

1. BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM
1.1 The case is all about George who is studying in one of the schools in the local area and
is 15 years old. He is quite anxious and concerned about his weight and consumption of
sugary drink. At present he is doing GCSEs and does not want to look different from
his peer. He loves to play rugby and thus, think that he requires more energy for the
same. he eats three meals and three snacks in a day and feels hungry and due to this, the
portion size of George is quite large. Even, in a whole day he drinks around 2 litters of
soft drink and fruit juices (Gollwitzer and et.al., 2017). Moreover, he does not have a
taste of normal or plain water. He spent time with his friends who also consumes soft
drinks but they do not have health issues like him.
1.2 The public health concern being provided in the current case is related with the rising
level of sugar and increasing weight among the children between the age group 10 to 15
years. In the present time, more and more children are coming across with the issues
related to sugar and higher weight causing serious health concerns in early stages of
their life. In the given scenario, George is consuming more sugar sweetened beverages
in his diet which needs to be reduced if he does not want to stand out from his friends.
The dietary management of the public health issues explains that it is important that the
individual should make use of healthy eating resources for managing as well as
reducing the risk of developing diabetes and other sugar related issues.
1.3 In the current case, the normal pattern of eating of George is six times in a day that is
three meals and three snacks. Additionally, he also feels very hungry so he keeps his
portion very large and include 2 litters of soft drink in his diet. He eats regularly and
never skips his meal and also have fruit juices during the day. In the case, it has been
mentioned that as he plays rugby, he drinks more juices as he thinks that sugary drink
will offer him more energy he requires to play (DiNicolantonio, O’Keefe and Wilson,
2017). Eating habits and patterns of George is majorly influenced by his lifestyle as he
most of the hangouts with his friends and thus, intake more fast food as compared to
when he stays with family. Further, his psychology that sugary drink will give him
energy to play is also impacting his eating patterns.
1.4 A psychological theory is being referred as the fact-based notion which explains the
phenomenon of behaviour of humans. There are different psychological theories,
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however for the purpose of explaining the behaviour of George in the current case, two
important theories can be utilized that is the Piaget's theory of cognitive development
and social learning theory. Piaget’s theory emphasizes on the manners in which the
children learn data and develop in their comprehending of the world around them.
There are mainly four stages as per this theory that is sensorimotor stage in which the
kids learn from their reflexes, in preoperational stage they learn from symbols, in
concrete operational stage they learn from logical thinking and finally, from formal
operational stage they think in abstract terms. George is at the stage of concrete
operational stage where he is thinking for his logical reasoning (Michie and Johnston,
2018). Furthermore, social learning theory states that people learn from observing
behaviour and rewards received by their peers. George looks at his friends and thinks
that there are no health issues of drinking soft drinks on his friends and they are still
healthy and thus, desire to be like them and does not want to stand out.
2. AIM OF TREATMENT
2.1 It is quite important to make the George understand about harms of sugar and what
exactly sugar is being made of. Further, it is also crucial to make him know the
disadvantages of intaking or consuming more sugar in his diet and the manners it will
going to impact both his physical and mental health. Moreover, George should make
use of natural products and supplements and opt for healthy food choices. For
encouraging George to his lifestyle and dietary habits, self-determination theory is
more appropriate.
3. INTERVENTION PLAN
3.1 For the purpose of making changes in the lifestyle and dietary habits of George there
are different intervention which will be adopted. Firstly, behavioural change strategies
such as Rubicon Model of Action Phases for limiting the sugar consumption and
dietary habits will be utilized (World Vision, 2013). This method is being adopted as it
offers good insight into the choices being made by an individual, human actions and
reflection on these actions. This will include three stages and are being explained
underneath:
 Pre-decisional stage – This is the phase wherein the intention will be formed
and assessment will be done whether consuming sugar is good for the health of
George or not. Some tests will also be conducted. This phase also involves
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realization, reasons for change and knowledge and information. Further, George
will be made aware about the affects of consuming more sugary and sweetened
drinks and how much sugar is present in soft drinks and how much they
influence his health rather than giving him energy.
 Pre-actional stage – This is the second phase which involves initiating the
intention or announcing the main intention to oneself or to others. At this phase,
goals will be set. For example, as in the current case, George will be asked to
reduce consumption of sugar, reducing weight, changing lifestyle and so forth.
It also involves planning for the actions such as making rules and regulations,
setting time limits, objectives and small goals (Vargas-Garcia, Evans and Cade,
2015).
 Actional stage – This is being regarded as the most important stage which
involves enacting the change. It involves creating the environment wherein
sugar is avoided, sugar is stored in places which is hard to reach and is not
purchased from the store. Furthermore, it also involves consumption control that
is altering the manner in which the sugar products are consumed, utilizing
appetite suppressors, discard excess amount of sugar. Monitoring and
controlling are also included at this phase and one can also get rewards for
attainment of goals and objectives.
 Post actional stage – This is being regarded as the stage which encompasses
evaluation and is the final stage of the whole process. in these different
strategies approaches and processes being utilized for reducing the consumption
of sugar, changing lifestyle and dietary habits are being analysed. Support of
other and feedbacks is being taken from others for further improvements.
Family and friends are being told about the issues being faced and supported is
being seek from them. Even the professional help is taken and keto diet and
other detox medication is being undertaken. Healthy diet, overall well-being,
regular exercise and self-care is being done.
3.2 For changing the behaviour of George different strategies will be adopted through
seeking help from psychological theories such as:
 Social interaction – Communication and interaction with other people such as
friend, family and community will help George to change his behaviour and
attitude (Braithwaite and et.al, 2019).
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 Self-monitoring – This is also being regarded as one of the most essential
strategies for changing the behaviour of George and altering his dietary patterns
and habits. It involves monitoring the diet, recording the behaviour and writing
and maintaining and food diary.
 Motivational interviewing – This is again an important approach through which
behaviour of George can be changed. This strategy makes use of combination of
behaviour change approaches for improving the intrinsic motivation through
exploration as well as resolving contradiction along with barricades to change in
behaviour.
 Nudging – It is also an important approach which involves choices of people
through not just removing the less health options rather by making the healthier
options easier.
4. MONITORING AND FOLLOW UP
4.1 Monitoring, reviewing, reassessing, analysing and progressing is being defined as the
activities which aimed at identifying the growth of the illness of the patient throughout the
overall process of the entire care or intervention being planned. As in the current case,
George is consuming more amount of sugary sweetened soft drinks which is causing weight
gain. Thus, he is in great need to change his lifestyle and dietary habits and reduce his sugar
consumption in order to remain fit and reduce weight. Pertaining to this, different
interventions and strategies have been planned which needs regular monitoring and checking.
This can be done by repeating measurements and charting different parameters (Blumenthal-
Barby and Burroughs, 2019). Further, regular growth of the disease needs to be checked
effectively at regular intervals. In addition to this, the results and progress can be recorded
using tables and charts or centralized monitor. Reassessment can be also be done for making
sure that the previous efforts were adequate or not. Furthermore, progress or likelihood of the
success of the intervention plan can be reviewed by the data present such as monitoring
parameters, data about events, outcomes of investigations etc.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Blumenthal-Barby, J.S. and Burroughs, H., 2019. Seeking better health care outcomes: the
ethics of using the “nudge". American Journal of Bioethics. 12(2). pp.1-10.
Braithwaite, R.L., McKenzie, R.D., Pruitt, V., Holden, K.B., Aaron, K. and Hollimon, C.,
2013. Community-based participatory evaluation: The healthy start approach. Health
Promotion Practice. 14(2). pp.213–19.
DiNicolantonio, J.J., O’Keefe, J.H. and Wilson, W.L., 2017. Sugar addiction: is it real? A
narrative review. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 52(14). pp.910-3.
Gollwitzer, A., Schwoerer, B., Stern, C., Gollwitzer, P.M. and Bargh, J.A., 2017. Down and
up regulation of a highly automatic process: Implementation intentions can both
decrease and increase social projection. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 70.
pp.19–26.
Michie, S. and Johnston, M., 2018. Theories and techniques of behaviour change: Developing
a cumulative science of behaviour change. Health Psychology Review. 6(1). pp.1-6.
Vargas-Garcia, E.J., Evans, C. and Cade, J.E., 2015. Impact of interventions to reduce sugar-
sweetened beverage intake in children and adults: a protocol for a systematic review
and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 4.p.17.
World Vision. 2013. Northern Karamoja growth, health and governance program: Barrier
Analysis. Monrovia: World Vision.
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