Nutrition and the Family

Nutrition and the Family

Melissa Ward

Lubbock Christian University

June 18, 2014

Nutrition and the Family

Identified Population

Childhood obesity is becoming one of the most common problems in today’s society. Hilde Bruche says it best, “Obesity is a serious handicap in the social life of a child, even more of a teenager” and is not taken seriously by adults (parents and professionals). It is the role of the family to insure a child is nurtured in a way that promotes healthy lifestyle. “Both heredity and environment influence human development, but when we focus our attention on one of these causes the other seems to fade into the background” (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010, p. 64). The target population for this family group will be low income families who receive assistance from local and state governments to provide food for their families including Supplemental Nutritional Assistance (SNAP) benefits. Many of the participants will be single African-American women and their children who live in public or low-income housing.

Critical Issues and Challenges

There are several causes of obesity as explained by Strauss (1999) including genetics, environment and social factors, and appetite and weight regulation. All of these causes start during pregnancy. It is important that mother follow healthy baby guidelines to insure healthy prenatal development. Mothers should eat a healthy diet, avoid alcohol, and attempt to reduce stress and interpersonal conflict throughout pregnancy. (Broderick & Blewitt, 2010, p. 61).

Many of the program participants rely heavily convenience foods including frozen foods like pizza, hot pockets, and ramen noodles. Many of the children only receive appropriate nutrition while in school through school lunches and the nutrition programs set forth in the local schools. Due to the limited amount of benefits some of these families receive, shopping can...