Consumer Health Perspective

The patrons for the consumer health perspective are 35-year-old mothers with college educations who have a child experiencing childhood obesity.

Target Audience

Funded by the U.S. government, the Let’s Move! campaign is spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama. Much of the content is directed towards children as it is focused on ending childhood obesity. There is a section full of YouTube videos discussing various ways to be healthy. There are links and discussions for parents, schools, and communities to engage with one another regarding food and nutrition as well as physical activity. Users are able to get email updates through an easy sign up function to give readers new information as it becomes available. With a great resource page, Let’s Move! is fully functioning to educate users of all ages of its mission to stop childhood obesity. Let’s Move! is great for a public library website and a children’s school library.

Let’s Move!

This resource is great for anyone interested in learning. Consumer information provided on this site is written at a basic level for all users to comprehend, but the target audience is educated adults. Medline Plus is funded by National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. A basic definition of obesity is provided and an outline of starting points a parent can take to change their child’s habits and improve quality of life.  Sub topics are discussed in more depth in the tabs on the webpage with sections such as Prevention/Screening, Coping, Nutrition, etc. I was pleasantly surprised with the Latest News section that keeps parents up-to-date with information as it is published. Other great features are the tutorials for learning about diabetes in both English and Spanish.

Medline Plus

MCH Library- Knowledge PathThe Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Library at Georgetown University makes finding information about childhood obesity easy for the common user. The online website provides resources in abundance for professionals, caregivers, schools, and childcare providers and for early childhood prevention programs. Concerned mothers have access to all the resources and can see how each differs, making the decision of what is best by comparing and contrasting. The website also provides an excellent resource feature which assists parents in finding a nutritionist in their area.

Mayo ClinicIn a Google search of the terms obesity and health information, the Mayo Clinic website is one of the top results, meaning a large number of people are likely to visit. With easy-to-access tabs on the left-hand side, Mayo Clinic breaks down childhood obesity for an everyday individual. Topics such as symptoms, causes, treatments, drugs and coping are readily available, written in plain language without difficult medical terminology. Mayo Clinic is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide the best education, treatment and research for consumers.

We Can!

We Can! is provided by the U.S. government, National Institutes of Health, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and puts forth reliable information for parents or guardians. The website is designed in a clean, easy-to-use fashion with tabs on the left-hand side that link to a variety of useful readings and resources on children’s activity and nutrition. The Reduce Screen Time tab is particularly appropriate in the face of our national obesity epidemic. We Can! includes charts for users to monitor their children and assist in their wellness endeavors.

Media-Smart Youth

Media-Smart Youth is a 10-class intensive program for 11-13-year-olds that explores ways in which the media influences children’s decisions in health and lifestyle, and discusses nutrition and physical activity. This program is sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a government-funded institute. Media-Smart Youth has been tested, retested, evaluated and refined to best suit the youth of today and is a highly regarded program.

WebMD- Children’s Health

WebMD is a familiar resource for consumer health and one the aforementioned target audience will be comfortable using. This website is fairly interactive with videos, slideshows, and quizzes that are fun to use. These tools allow users to remain current in their knowledge. WebMD is edited by a staff of physicians and health professionals. The website holds a URAC stamp of approval stating it is an accredited health website. In July 2014, it received an Honor Code Certificate of Compliance and is TRUSTe Certified. WebMD’s goal of providing excellent medical material and a supportive community is done through the brilliant Children’s Health page for childhood obesity.

Mobile Apps• Kids Making Healthy Choices: Available for iPhones and iPads for $2.99 as of July, 2014. The app has the eBook version of “Making Health Choices” by Merilee Kern, encourages parents to read it along with their children and provides discussion questions along with other fun activities parents and children can participate in together. The app includes both a boy and girl version of the eBook and has kid-friendly recipes, research, and information as well. Kids Making Healthy Choices received the “Excellent Products” iParenting Media Award. • Kurbo is a mobile app designed for youths between 8-18 to assist in a 12-week weight loss program. Two different options are available: human coaching and virtual coaching. Free consultation by phone is offered to parents wanting to know more about Kurbo. This app is available on Apple products and will soon be available for Android phones. Virtual coaching is $10/month or $20/3 months (a current deal is available for free lifetime subscription), and the human coaching program is $75/month or $200/3 months. Kurbo’s team is made up of doctors and has received great reviews from Time and New York Times. • Early childhood education is important in the fight against childhood obesity. Tribal Nova offers a solution with an iLearnWith app for 3-6-year-olds with games that teach about healthy eating, food groups and balanced meals. Available for iPhones and free to download with learning games priced at $2.99, a 3-month subscription for $9.99 and a 1-year subscription at $19.99.

I was able to identify good resources by first checking who sponsored each website—whether it was a company, an individual with a personal agenda, or a reputable agency such as the U.S. government. Next, I looked at the content—whether the information available was accurate and not misleading to consumers. Lastly, I checked when the website was last updated. For example, if it was last updated in 2001, it’s not likely to be a as relevant a resource as one that was updated in June 2014.

A bad resource I found in my search was Huffington Post’s Childhood Obesity page. This page is full of articles written by the HuffPost staff, with titles that include “USDA To Announce New Healthy School Snack Rules” and “Have American Parents Got It All Backwards?” These articles and blog posts are mostly sensational pieces and contain no medical merit. There was research funded by the Nestle company which I did not feel comfortable using as it appeared to be a conflict of interest. Being a bit of detective is involved when looking for quality resources and tools.

I would avoid providing bad medical information by double checking where I got the information from, how it was funded, etc. Involving co-workers is a great idea as bouncing ideas off another person brings new light to projects and educational materials.

Sources: Good Egg or Bag Egg?

Obesity Outreach CampaignThe target audience for the local library campaign is parents 35 years of age and older with children who are obese or at risk for obesity. First, I would meet with my fellow librarians at the library and determine who is in charge of different assignments and create a timeline and various meetings to evaluate progress. Using social media (such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) we would promote the campaign to patrons regarding classes, workshops and discussions that are offered and briefly describe them. Publicity announcements are also made and content for the classes, etc. are promoted with printed handouts.

The goal of the outreach program is to educate parents on which resources will provide the most reliable health information. Resources that will be discussed are Medline Plus which focuses on prevention and screening, Let’s Move! which focuses on prevention and ways to reduce childhood obesity, and Mayo Clinic which covers many health topics and is full of information and relatable resources. Included as well are mobile apps (like Kurbo) for patrons on the go who need immediate access and discuss what apps are available for pediatricians. Once the program is completed, a staff meeting is held to review the performance and determine what went well and what can be improved in the future.

ReferencesChildhood Obesity. (2014). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/basics/definition/con-20027428

Childhood Obesity News. (2014). Huffington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/childhood-obesity/

iLearnWith. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.ilearnwith.com/our-apps/nutrition/

 Image. (2013). Advancing Children’s Health. Retrieved from: http://www.advancingchildrenshealth.com/blog/hospital-happenings/5-ways-to-prevent-childhood-obesity/

Image. (2013). Huffington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claire-mccarthy-md/obesity-disease-condition_b_3471385.html

Image. (2014). WQED Multimedia. Retrieved from: http://www.wqed.org/tv/specials/childhood-obesity.php

Kurbo. (2014). https://kurbo.com/program-overview.html

Let’s Move! (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.letsmove.gov/

Medline Plus. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesityinchildren.html

MCH Library. (2014). Retrieved from: http://mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_overweight.html

We Can! (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/

Obesity in Children. (2014). WebMD. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/children/guide/obesity-children

Obesity (2014). Partners in Information Access for the Public Health Workforce. Retrieved from: http://phpartners.org/obesity.html#Programs

  

TEXAS CHILDHOOD OBESITY MANAGEMENT GROUP

ABOUT TCOMGThe Texas Childhood Obesity Management Group is a nonprofit public health organization that works toward the advancement of research, education and understanding of obesity in Texas communities. It is committed to researching and discovering new treatments as well as monitoring state obesity levels and obesity-related diseases among children and adolescents.

Funding for this organization comes from donations provided by private individuals, foundations and government entities. These funds are largely used for research. The remaining funds are used for administration.

The TCOMG public health collection is a valuable resource for physicians, community organizers, policymakers, researchers, teachers, caregivers, families and members of the general public. Its focus is obesity and its effects on children, adolescents and also adults.

BOOKS FOR THIS ORGANIZATION

Title: Evaluating Obesity Prevention Efforts: A Plan For Measuring ProgressPrice: $79.00 Format: Print (Paperback) Price: FREE download Format: Electronic Source: The National Academies Press website - http://www.nap.edu/download.php?record_id=18334#

Authority: This is a report from the Institute of Medicine. It provides an actionable plan for the measurement of progress in America’s obesity prevention. The book provides guidance in all aspects of future obesity intervention in an effort to counteract the growing epidemic.

This book was authored by the Committee on Evaluating Progress of Obesity Prevention Effort, the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) and the IOM.

This source fits into the overall collection, due to its value in assessing community progress in reducing obesity and improving the effectiveness of actions being implemented in this effort.

Institute of Medicine. (2013). Evaluating obesity prevention efforts: A plan for measuring progress. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Title: Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the NationPrice: $49 Format: PaperbackPrice: FREE Format: Electronic Source: The National Academies Press website -http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13275

Authority: This book recommends that communities create more opportunity for exercise and outdoor activities, a reduction in the amount of unhealthy, inexpensive food and drinks and an effort to make healthy foods more affordable and available. The book suggests a “systems approach” of these strategies in order to see more progress in the prevention of obesity.

This was authored by the Committee on Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention, the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

This resource will fit well into the collection, due to its real-world, detailed approach to reducing obesity in communities.

Institute of Medicine. (2012). Accelerating progress in obesity prevention: Solving the weight of the nation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Title: The Current State of Obesity Solutions in the United StatesPrice: $38 Format: PaperbackPrice: FREE Format: Electronic Source: The National Academies Press website - http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=18742

Authority:Although obesity rates have seen a recent drop, this book reports there are still troubling statistics. Obesity and diseases related to the condition tend to be more prevalent among certain groups. Those within these groups are still seeing increases in obesity and health risks. This book was authored by Steve Olson, Rapporteur; the Roundtable on Obesity Solutions, the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

This book fits into the collection, because it focuses on obesity intervention measures that have been successful, but also on areas that still need improvement.

Institute of Medicine. (2014). The current state of obesity solutions in the United States: Workshop summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

JOURNALS FOR THIS ORGANIZATION

Title: Childhood ObesityPrice: Subscription Fees Format: Electronic or Printhttp://www.liebertpub.com/subscribe/addtocart/childhood-obesity/384/

This journal explores effective and actionable strategies for obesity prevention and weight management among children and adolescents. It also addresses health disparities and cultural sensitivities in order to bring about change within communities. Lack of access to effective healthcare is also a focus. The journal is a collaboration with the following: the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This journal will be helpful for physicians, families, caregivers, teachers and community organizers.

Title: International Journal of Pediatric ObesityPrice: $750 Format: Onlinehttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%292047-6310

This journal focuses on childhood and adolescent obesity research, covering many aspects of the condition and its impact on public health policy. This peer-reviewed journal is owned by the World Obesity Federation and has a diverse, international editorial board.

This publication would be useful for physicians, members of the public and policymakers.

Title: Obesity: A Research JournalPrice: Subscription Fees Format: Electronic or Printhttp://ordering.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/subs.asp?ref=1930-739X&doi=10.1002/(ISSN)1930-739X

This is the official journal of The Obesity Society and is edited by a distinguished panel of physicians and experts in the field. Its focus is the increase of knowledge, research and the promotion of improved treatment of the obese and their families. The journal includes peer-reviewed research and commentary involving public health and medical development.

This journal would be ideal for physicians, medical researchers, public health officials and members of the public.

DATABASES FOR THIS ORGANIZATION

Database: National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research Measures Registryhttp://nccor.org/nccor-tools/measures/index.php

This is a searchable database focused on diet and physical activity as it pertains to the research of childhood obesity. Its mission is to improve the application and effectiveness of this research in order to halt or reverse childhood obesity. The NCCOR brings together the nation’s leading research funders in its goals and project management: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). NCCOR received an HHSinnovates Award in August 2010 and the NIH Director’s Award in July 2011.

The NCCOR Measures Registry is a useful tool in learning more about public health research, methodology and results. Physicians, public health officials, policymakers, researchers and members of the public would benefit from it.

Database: Child Trends Databank Report Overweight Children and Youthhttp://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=overweight-children-and-youth

This databank is provided by Child Trends, a nonprofit (and nonpartisan) research center. Its focus is on valuable information that promotes the health of young people—from birth to early adulthood. Child Trends’ mission is to enrich the lives of children and youth by conducting high-quality research and sharing that knowledge with practitioners and policymakers. Their research surrounding early childhood (health and environmental factors) has been nationally recognized.

This database is useful for physicians, policymakers, researchers, educators, childcare workers, parents and the general public.

WEB RESOURCES – STATISTICAL DATA AND MOBILE APPS

For this Organization

Web Site: Centers for Disease Control (CDC)Adult Obesity Statistics - http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.htmlChildhood Obesity Statistics http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

Mobile App: http://www.cdc.gov/mobile/applications/cdcgeneral/promos/cdcmobileapp.html

Features: A chronic disease state policy tracking system that includes policies on obesity, nutrition or physical activity.http://nccd.cdc.gov/CDPHPPolicySearch//Default.aspx

Web Site: National Institutes of Health (NIH) & Weight-control Information Network (WIN)

Adult and Childhood Obesity Statistics: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/

There is no mobile app available for this web site.