Childhood Obesity and My Entrepreneurial Idea - Free Essay Example

Abstract America is one of the countries in the world with the highest rates of childhood obesity. Various databases register over 13.7 million victims struggling with the health challenge. As a public health matter, various attempts have been made to help to stop or reduce the rising number of obese children. Notably, secondary and tertiary levels have commonly been used. Therefore, it is vital to create a health promotion model that relies on primary and secondary levels of obesity prevention. However, the model is built in line with Evidence-Based Research and Practice (EBP) including the components and the Evidence Research Practice (EBP) model itself. If you were to turn the plan into a potential business, resources will need to be collected, objectives and goals established. To sustainably operate this idea, shareholders will be paramount, and more effort placed in outreach activities to guide parents and monitor the childs progress will be needed. Childhood Obesity and My Entrepreneurial Idea Childhood obesity is best understood as a health challenge that affects both children and teenagers. It is known to occur due to the existence of too many fats within the body. For a child to be declared obese, he or she must be overweight beyond the medically required normal measurement (CDC, 2018). However, age is also an important factor in determining if a child is in fact obese. This health challenge is noted to be on the gradual increase in the United States. Various strategies are hereby required to combat it. There are many public health initiatives that have been undertaken. Five prevention levels have been streamlined and they include the primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary and primordial levels of disease prevention. However, the most common types of prevention levels are the first three. In this paper it will review childhood obesity as it gradually rises in the United States and then propose the creation of an entrepreneurial plan in form of a health promotion that will be aimed at reducing it or if possible solving the challenge completely. There are possibilities of other health challenges occurring in the due course of the health promotion program. This significantly alters the goal thus interfering with the childs results. Other health promotion components include advocacy and the emphasis on proper nutrition for obese children. In adherence to the outlined health promotion components in line with an evidenced-based research (EBR), it is more likely that the challenge can be reduced (Levels of Prevention, 2013). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the latest statistics show that 18.5% is a general prevalence of obesity in the United States with an approximated 13.7 million teenagers and children combined. This is only among children and teenagers between the ages of 2 and 19 years. To be exact, obesity of children between the ages of 2 and 5 years cover a total of 13.9% and children between the ages of 6 and 11 are 18.4%. If we are to take into consideration the various ethnicities, the prevalence of the disease is most common among the Hispanic with 25.8% in comparison to the 22% among the non-Hispanic blacks. To address the matter above, a health promotion plan is required. First, the components of a health promotion plan must be identified. To begin with, goal setting is foremost to understand the direction of the health program. Here, the goal is to gradually reduce the weight of these obese children. This must be focused on solving childhood obesity as the core problem. During the initial training, the childs parents/caretakers must be advised on the importance of healthy eating habits instead of stopping the child from specific diets or foods (Public Health its Five Levels of Prevention, 2016). Parents must also learn and understand the psychological impact that some obese children can suffer from. Healthy, open communication must be introduced to deal with any resulting issues, for example isolation or depression. A child must feel as though the issue is being taken care of. The health promotion component of physical activity must be handled with ultimate concern. A child that is obese needs exercise to promote health. Another component of health promotion among obese children is the fact that the victims health must be maintained. To support the health promotion for childhood obesity which is on the rise, it is required to suggest an evidence-based model that supports it. An evidence-based model is explained as a systematic framework availed for nurses to integrate well-articulated interventions that are clinically evidenced with ethical inclusions (CDC, 2018). One example of an Evidence-Based Model is the Parents as Teachers (PAT) model. This type of model offers the simple and visual elaboration of the parents as teachers of their own child. (Morshed et al., 2018). The parents as teachers model comprise of 4 key components that interrelate with each other. For example, a one-on-one with the parent and the child. Here, home visits are done to ensure that results are being attained. Others include group connections, Health and developmental screening for the obesity stricken child, and lastly, a resource-oriented network for the affected families. Relating the identified Evidence-Based Practice model (EBP) to the health promotion model under creation, the two concepts potentially address the public health challenge as both primary and secondary levels of disease prevention. The suggested PAT model offers parents an avenue to teach their own children matters concerning living a healthy life (Morshed et al., 2018). As a primary prevention for the health promotion strategy, talking to children out of depression as a component of health promotion is a paramount move. Parents must be taught that for their obese children to revive their health, they should gain or rather maintain weight slowly instead of losing it at once. Relating this to the health maintenance components of the health promotion program, the program becomes viable if the rules are followed. The PAT evidenced-based model offers regular visitations to parents and their obese children purposely to monitor progress. The attribution training component of the health promotion program demands parents to embrace the facts and beliefs that the children can potentially get better under their own guidance. Precisely, the increasing obesity challenge among children in the United States can be outplayed by using the outlined health promotion strategy under the PAT Evidence-Based Practice. Interventions for childhood obesity yield more results when parents are involved. Implementing a Plan to Help Reduce Childhood Obesity In order to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States, a streamlined health promotion plan must be implemented. The objectives of the health promotion are to involve parents in the due process of reducing obesity among the diagnosed children to 5 percent. Here, out of the 50 states in America, there are 24 others already with the program. This implies that 26 other states do not have PAT health promotion programs running (Morshed et al., 2018). Therefore, the 26 states are the potential markets in which the health promotion can be launched for the operation to reduce the increasing numbers of childhood obesity cases. The collaborating partners are the professional regulatory body known as NNA, the Ottawa Charter Groups who venture in creating supportive environments for health development, and the parents union who must undertake the overall responsibility. The health promotion program addresses the health people 2020 which focusses on the planned action to redu ce the obesity prevalence amongst the United States population. Entrepreneurial Component Nursing entrepreneurship is a business-oriented concept that identifies a nurse or group whose interest falls in offering nursing services in a legal but financially beneficial manner. Here, nurses use their own creativity to develop unique concepts that help in providing solutions (International Council of Nurses, n.d). However, a nurse entrepreneurs services must revolve around healthcare products or services under the regulatory system such as the National Nurse Association (NNA). Before venturing into the nursing fraternity, a nurse is expected to consider the legally defined legitimacy, credibility from society and the operating conditions. The Business or Component to Institute Every nurse is trained to serve the interests of the childs and other stakeholders within health facilities. However, today, nurses have moved out of their comfort zone to create and innovate concepts that enhance the quality of healthcare services which are offered for a financial return. For example, a plan for the health promotion program if successfully implemented potentially addresses the public health issue of obesity in the United States (International Council of Nurses, n.d). The business component for the health promotion business plan will be established facilities across various states with a kids gym, PAT departments and a highly qualified inspection team to conduct follow-ups, create partnerships with schools purposely to reach out to the victims easily, and a counseling team. T he purpose of the health promotion plan is to fight the socially prevalent obesity among children at an affordable cost for every victim to afford. The mission of the plan is to equip parents with basic skills to manage obesity stricken children in families with genetically recurring situations. The goal is to arrive at an obesity-free and productive future generation. Resources can be raised from donations, proprietor capital worth 50,000 US Dollars for the first five establishments. Sustaining the venture will be through annual shareholder advertisements and outreach actions to find and train parents besides monitoring child progress. Conclusion To conclude, childhood obesity is understood as a persistently rising health challenge in the United States of America. Statistics show that over 13.7 million children and teenagers are struggling with obesity. As a public health challenge, it is noted that the most strategic preventive action is done by applying a health promotion which incorporates both primary and secondary preventive levels. The promotional components are integrated with the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) which later n derives a comprehensive health promotion model such as the Parents as Teachers (PAT) model. To implement the health promotion model, the objective, goal, sustainability, population and many other factors are explained. Nursing entrepreneurs nowadays creatively innovate solutions for childs at a fee. Regarding the above health promotion model, a plan to make a business out of it is streamlined and explained in details. However, sustainability simply lies within outreach activities and shareholder advertisements. References CDC. (2018, August 13). Childhood Obesity Facts | Overweight Obesity | CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html International Council of Nurses (n.d). Guidelines on the Nurse Entre/ Intrapreneur Providing Nursing Service, Retrieved from https://www.ipnig.ca/education/Guidelines-NurseEntre-ICN.pdf Levels of Prevention [Video file]. (2013, May 29). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.bev=TlGe80Mi85Uapp=desktop Morshed, A. B., Tabak, R. G., Schwarz, C. D., Haire-Joshu, D. (2018). The Impact of a Healthy Weight Intervention Embedded in a Home-Visiting Program on Childrens Weight and Mothers Feeding Practices. Journal of nutrition education and behavior. Public Health its Five Levels of Prevention [Video file]. (2016, February 26). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgyN9Xotpw0feature=youtu.be

How Stoicism Supports Civil Disobedience - Literature Essay Samples

The Stoic way of life described in Epictetus’s Enchiridion (135 A.C.E.) is characterized by a freedom from anxiety and being highly aware of the limitations of humanity. The Enchiridion is a list of 52 principles that, by following them, would allow one to become as great as the philosopher Socrates. The deconstruction The Enchiridion in this essay will show that the Stoic way of life supports the practice of civil disobedience as used by Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1960s civil rights movement. In â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1963),† Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. defines and defends civil disobedience to the white clergymen of Birmingham, Alabama. According to King, one commits civil disobedience when â€Å"[he] breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice† (King, 7). Acts of civil disobedience that King took part in and organize d during the civil rights movement include bus boycotts, lunch counter sit-ins, and violating Jim Crow laws. He also led mass, televised marches and gave speeches that reached thousands of Americans. At first glance, King’s actions may seem contradictory to the Stoic way of life, however, but a majority of Epictetuss principles had to have been followed for civil disobedience to be effective, namely control, reputation, and patience. A recurring topic in The Enchiridion is control. Epictetus begins the manual by saying what things are in our control and what things are not. Things that are in are control include, â€Å"opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and.our own actions.† (Epictetus, 1). Things which are not include, â€Å"our body, property, reputation, command, andWhatever are not our own actions.† (Epictetus, 1). Understanding that one cannot control, nor predict the actions and thoughts of others would be useful in the practice of civil disobedience. In his letter, Martin Luther King Jr. references workshops on nonviolence (King, 2.) These workshops were part of a process of self-purification in order to teach those participating in sit-ins, boycotts, and protest how to not retaliate. By understanding what is in one’s control and what is not, people are better able to come to terms with the fact that other people might try to harm them, verbally and physically. However, by practicing Stoicism, protesters would be better at controlling their responses, as our own actions are things we control. The example Epictetus uses is of someone at the bath. Before going to bathe, one should remind themself of what happens at the bath and if any hindrance arises in bathing one must think, It was not only to bathe that I desired, but to keep my mind in a state conformable to nature; and I will not keep it if I am bothered at things that happen, (Epictetus, 4). Before a protest or a sit-in, one should remind themself of the nature of their actions, meaning the purpose and possible outcomes of these actions. By mentally fortifying themself, one would be able to withstand any disturbances. This is key in King’s nonviolent approach to civil disobedience. According to Epictetus if you prepare yourself for the worst, you can never say, â€Å"It was not worth so much,† (Epictetus, 33). All outcomes become favorable outcomes and when you are riskin g your freedom, your livelihood, and your lifeKing sacrificed all threefor a cause such as equality for blacks, you truly have to believe that it is worth everything that must be sacrificed. Another main theme of Enchiridion is to not worry about what others think of you, especially since reputation is out of our control. Martin Luther King Jr. discusses the different types of people he comes into contact with, and their views on his actions and those of people involved in the civil rights movement. These types of people are: the complacent blacks, who â€Å"are so drained of self-respect†¦.that they have adjusted to segregation,† the middle-class blacks who â€Å"have become insensitive to the problems of the masses,† the black nationalists who â€Å"have lost faith† (King, 8) and â€Å"advocate violence,† the white allies who have â€Å"grasped the meaning of [the] Social Revolution,† the white racists who support the â€Å"disease of segregation,† and the white moderates who â€Å"is more devoted to order than to justice.† (King, 6). Each of these groups has a different opinion about the reputation of King and othe r advocates but that doesn’t stop the Civil Rights Movement from trudging on. Epictetus believes that anyone who misjudges another person, harms someone, or speaks badly of someone, is only deceiving themself (Epictetus, 42). So the middle-class blacks are deceiving themself by not fighting for their own rights and by becoming comfortable in a system built on inequality. The white moderates are deceiving themself by thinking they are doing the right thing by telling blacks to wait and, as King writes, â€Å"paternalistically [believing] he can set the timetable for another mans freedom† (King, 6). King claims that blacks had waited for over 340 years and that the word wait, which â€Å"rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity† in actuality means â€Å"Never.† (King, 6). Knowing when postponement is futile is another major component of The Enchiridion that is also part of civil disobedience. Some may look at Rule 15 of The Enchiridion and try to dispute the claim that Stoicism supports direct, nonviolent action but I disagree. This passage reads, â€Å"Is anything brought around to you? Put out your hand and take your share with moderation. Does it pass by you? Dont stop it. Is it not yet come? Dont stretch your desire towards it, but wait till it reaches you.†(Epictetus, 15) Epictetus is basically saying to wait, which King does not wish to do any longer. However, when Epictetus says this, he is only referring to materialistic things such as a spouse, a public office, or riches. Throughout The Enchiridion he dismisses the usefulness and importance of material things, preferring to attain spiritual wealth. Equality and being free from persecution based on skin color is not materialistic, it is a human right and though Epictetus writes to â€Å"wait till it reaches you† in regards to some things, he also writes â€Å"dont wish to be a general, or a senator, or a consul, but to be free.†(Epictetus, 19). King and other civil rights advocates are pushing for freedom. Epictetus encourages Stoics to, in every affair, â€Å"consider what precedes and follows, and then undertake it.† (Epictetus, 29) King clearly does this as he describes waiting for the election Albert Bottwell and negotiating about the signs denoting segregated business. He then considers the extent of racism in the south as he writes about vicious mobs, lynchings, hate-filled policemen, murder, and the â€Å"twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of pover ty in the midst of an affluent society† (King, 6.) He considers what has to be done and what the outcome could be, whether good or bad. Epictetus writes, â€Å"When you have evaluated all this, if your inclination still holds, then go to war.† (Epictetus, 29) Civil disobedience during the Civil Rights Movement is that war. Overall, practicing Stoicism would have proved very beneficial to those who took part of the Civil Rights Movement and anyone involved in any sort of civil disobedience. Despite being in jail while writing this letter, King is unabashed in the fact that once he is released he is going to continue pushing, in Alabama and throughout the South. He does not care that he does not have the support of the white clergymen and according to Epictetus he shouldn’t because, â€Å"If you ever happen to turn your attention to externals, so as to wish to please anyone, be assured that you have ruined your scheme of life† (Epictetus, 23). King would ruin his scheme of life, and would not have been able to accomplish so much had he only been focused on pleasing those around him and giving in to the whims of men. Stoicism promotes having attainable goals with a logical path to reach them, having a clear mind and the ability to control one’s own thoughts and actions, and not focusi ng on the wants of others but on what is right. Works Cited Epictetus. (135 ace). The Enchiridion. Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html King, M. L. (1963). A letter from a Birmingham jail. Retrieved from https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html