Childhood obesity: peer
education programs for
prevention and intervention
Thais Santos de Melo, undergraduate student, Dietetics
Maia Ingram, Health Promotion Science, co-director Arizona Prevention Research Center
Latin America Summer Program 2016
Introduction
•
A rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity in children has been seen around
the world.
•
According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity now
affects 1 in 6 children and adolescents in the United States.
•
For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years, the prevalence of obesity has
remained fairly stable at about 17%.
Introduction
•
In Brazil, low infant weight is a major concern. However, newly alarming is the increase of
overweight and obese among children and adolescents is growing.
•
This is called “Nutrition Transition”
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction

Prevention and intervention programs are necessary for children
and teenagers that suffer from this condition.

Two programs currently being used in a U.S. Latino community,
La Vida Buena and Youth Advocates for Health, aimed at
improving the healthy habits of youth.
Methods
This project used three methods:
1.
A literature review of nutritional educational programs from
Brazil and the U.S.
2.
Observation of “La Vida Buena” group and discussion with
program coordinators.
3.
Guides discussion with Youth Advocates participants about their
experience in the program.
Results
1. After a research about Nutritional Education Program in Brazil, It was possible
to notice that there is nothing similar to Peer Education programs in the U.S.
Even though the Public Health Department have programs for prevention and
control of some deficiencies, such as Iron and Vitamin A, it is not educational.
Specially when we talk about children and teenagers.
Results
2. Observation of “La Vida Buena” group and discussion with program
coordinators. The coordinators stated the following:
•
Adolescents enjoy spending time as a group while learning about
different topics.
•
They do not think the peer educators need to be paid to participate
in the program.
•
In depth knowledge about some topics, such as risk of HIV or obesity,
is more likely to impact their behavior.
Results
Results
3. The peers advocates emphasized issues they felt were
important that can be generalized to youth in other places:
•
They didn’t know previously the quantity of sugar in various
food products;
•
It is difficult to drink enough water;
•
It is difficult to read food labels and pay attention to
ingredients;
•
It is easier to exercise more than change what they eat;
Discussion
In Brazil…
•
Usually, two shifts in school
•
Selection: High School teenagers interested in learning about
health
•
Teachers/Health professionals teach these students during the
time they are not in the classroom.
•
Idea is to these students share with their peers and the young
students what they learned.
Conclusion
•
Prevention of childhood obesity is an important issue for future
generations, but is also a current worry.
•
It is important to find effective programs to promote prevention.
•
Peer education is a good option if the right strategies are applied
References