Health Information Flyer
One of the pivotal goals of consumer health literacy efforts is to design educational materials that attract as
well as educate users. In this Assignment, you design a health information flyer on a topic that is of interest to
you.
To prepare:
Select a health issue of interest to you.
Identify the audience or population that you seek to educate about this issue.
Search the Internet to find credible sites containing information about your selected topic.
Review the two health literacy websites listed in this week’s Learning Resources. Focus on strategies for
presenting information.
To complete:
Design an educational flyer on the health issue you selected.
Include a cover page.
Include an introduction that provides:
An explanation of your issue and why you selected it topic to use (Childhood Obesity)
A description of the audience you are addressing
In the flyer itself:
Develop your flyer in such a way that it attracts the attention of the intended audience.
Include a description of the health issue and additional content that will enhance your message (i.e., key terms
and definitions, graphics, illustrations, etc.).
Recommend four or five sites that provide clear, valuable, and reliable information on the topic.
Note: Remember to keep the information in your health flyer and its design at the appropriate level for the
audience you are seeking to inform.
Health Educational Flyer
INTRODUCTION
The Mayo Clinic (2013) describes Childhood obesity as:
… a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well
above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Childhood obesity is particularly troubling
because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to
adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to
poor self-esteem and depression.
CDC further objectively defines obesity as having a BMI (Body mass index) of 95 th or more percentile (CDC, 2011).
HEALTH EDUCATIONAL FLYER
Childhood obesity is one of the growing and concerning health issues. According to the WHO, not only is it quickly
becoming a scourge in the developed world, it is now also gaining concern the 2 nd and 3 rd world countries. Overall, 42
million children less than 5 years old were considered as overweight in 2010 (WHO, 2013). In America alone, a
study by Moss BG & Yeaton WH (2011) revealed that almost a third of children were either obese or overweight at 9
month and 2 years.
Children with this condition develop numerous health complications, and have shorter life span.
It is therefore a priority to address this issue.
The target population is American adults who bring up or take care of children for a considerable part of the
children’s life, such as parents, pre- secondary school teachers, & orphanages. The goal is to equip them with
knowledge about the condition, such as they in turn can educate and influence the children’s lifestyle for the better.
The way children live is greatly determined by the guidance they receive from adults. Many other factors, such as
environmental factors, sure do influence them, but it is a known fact that trusted adults are some of the greatest
determinants to child and teenager health and behavior.
The purpose of this flyer is to influence the influencers to fight against childhood obesity.
What is childhood obesity?
This is when a child (less than 18
year old) has excess body fat to the
extent that it has a negatively effect
on his/ her wellbeing.
What are the Risk Factors?
Overweight/ obese parents: is
the most important risk
factor. Partly due to genetic link
and partly due to the child copying
unhealthy lifestyle.
Habitual eating of high calorie, low
fiber diet such as fries, coke &
burgers.
Family environment: families where
HEALTH EDUCATIONAL FLYER
the type of food eaten by kids is
regulated, those that eat at least 4
family meals together per week and
whose children get close attention
from their parents are less likely to
become obese
Doing little physical activity. a study
found out that obese children to be
less active by 35% and 65% during
school-days and on the weekends
respectively.
Psychological factors, such as
overeating to deal with stress
Health Consequences
Obesity can affect the child both
physically and emotionally
Physical Problems
Type 2 diabetes
mellitus
Breathing problems,
as obesity interferes with lung
formation in children
high blood pressure, heart attack
and stroke in the long run
Sleep disturbance
Early puberty and menstruation.
Easily getting tired
Psychological problems
Low self esteem. Obese kids are
often a laughing stock of their