Document Type
DNP Project
Department
School of Nursing
Date of Degree
Spring 2020
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Primary Advisor
Dr. Mercedes Echevarria, DNP, APN; Dr. Karen Whitt, PhD, AGN-BC, FNP-C
Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity continues to be a problem in urban areas despite an understanding of the causes and consequences. It is essential to develop ways to reduce childhood obesity from a systems perspective, addressing the multifaceted elements that contribute to it.
Objectives: This project aimed to implement and evaluate a community-based, family-centered nutrition and exercise program to improve health outcomes and long-term complications related to childhood obesity in a New Jersey city.
Methods: A 12-week nutrition and exercise program based on materials from Let’s Go 5210 was provided for children age 8-13 enrolled in a community organization dance class. Participants completed a 10-item open-ended survey to measure knowledge of healthy food behaviors and attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle pre and post intervention. Anthropometric measurements were obtained at 0, 6, and 12 weeks to determine changes from baseline.
Results:Participants’ (N=42) pre and post intervention survey responses were evaluated using a paired t-test and indicated a significant increase in servings of fruits and vegetables (95.2%, p< 0.001), decrease in servings of fast food per week (71.4%, p=0.021) and sugary drinks per day, (71.4%, p
Conclusion: Incorporating a nutrition and exercise program into preexisting extracurricular activities was effective in improving healthy lifestyle behaviors which can lead to decreased childhood obesity.
Copyright Notice
©2020 Chayna Hardy-Taylor. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Hardy-Taylor, MSN, FNP-C, C. (2020). A Systems Perspective for Integrating a Community-Based, Family-Centered Nutrition and Exercise Program into a Preexisiting Physical Extracurricular Activity. , (). Retrieved from https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/son_dnp/70
Open Access
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