Planning Phase of Population-Specific Healthy Lifestyle Program

Abstract

<p>Childhood overweight and obesity in the United States are significant health problems that have a negative impact on a child’s physical and psychological well-being and that generate an extra financial burden for those affected due to health care costs. The current evidence-base for treatment of childhood overweight and obesity recommends a moderate- to high-intensity healthy lifestyle program of physical activity, healthy diet, and behavioral modification. The purpose of this descriptive, multi-method inquiry was to identify the perceived barriers to a healthy lifestyle for a population of elementary school students, ages 6 to 13 years, as the basis for the development of a school-based, population-specific healthy lifestyle program. Quantitative findings included a significantly higher level (<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">p</em> = .04) of perceived barriers to physical activity by age category in terms of social factors. Post hoc analyses revealed that 11- to 13-year old students had higher perceived barriers related to social factors compared to 9- to 10-year olds <em>p </em>= .03). Perceived barriers to physical activity related to body-related factors were also significantly higher (<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">p </em>= .02) for students living in a single-parent household as compared to those students living in a dual-parent household. Additionally, single- versus dual-parent household status was found to be a significant predictor (<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">OR </em>= 2.68, CI [1.004, 7.134]) of total perceived barriers to physical activity, with students living in a single-parent household reporting a higher level of perceived barriers as compared to those living in a dual-parent household. Qualitative findings revealed that the overarching perceived barriers in terms of physical activity were related to knowledge and barriers to healthy diet were related to access.</p>