Date of Conferral

5-19-2025

Date of Award

May 2025

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Terese Verklan

Abstract

Summary The doctoral project was a quality improvement initiative aimed at addressing the co-occurrence of obesity and depression in children aged 9-18 years. The practice problem is critical within the context of nursing practice, as both childhood obesity and depression are significant public health concerns that impact physical and mental well-being. The practice-focused question guiding the project explored whether the implementation of an educational program centered on nutrition, physical activity, and mental health leads to improvements in body mass index (BMI) and reductions in depressive symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The purpose of the doctoral project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program in promoting both physical and mental health in the pediatric clinic population. Strategies for the project included quantitative approach that involved data collection through BMI measurements and PHQ-9 assessments. Findings revealed that the educational intervention resulted in measurable improvements in BMI from an average of 31.5 to 29.8 and reductions in depressive symptoms from the average PHQ-9 score of 14.2 to 9.6 among participants. The project contributes to positive social change by addressing health disparities among youth, promoting healthier behaviors, and empowering families with knowledge and tools to improve long-term health outcomes. The conclusions emphasized the need for continued implementation and evaluation of such programs to ensure sustainability and effectiveness. Major outcomes of the project include an educational curriculum, training materials for healthcare providers, and recommendations for integrating similar programs into pediatric healthcare settings.

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