Extraneous Variables
In addition to the aforementioned variables, some extraneous variables are essential to consider to avoid unexpected research outcomes. Thus, when taking into account the specifics of the topic being analyzed, the share of food consumed in the energy ratio should be assessed. Despite education and drug treatment, the food consumed by children and parents is absorbed differently depending on its energy content (Mi et al., 2019). The control of this variable will be carried out through preparing special diet programs in which the energy indices of products will be marked. Another extraneous variable is a sleep pattern, which, as Mi et al. (2019) argue, largely determines the success of weight control. Children’s parents will receive appropriate guidance on what regimen they and their children should follow. This is a crucial measure in order for the results of the study to be valid and not change due to the effect of lack or excess sleep on the participants’ weight.
Instruments
Accurate weight measuring devices will be distributed to all the participants. To maintain the reliability of the measurements, children’s parents will be instructed on how and when to weigh themselves correctly. In addition, simple calorie counting apps will be offered to the members of the study. These programs include special columns in which the daily ration is entered, and the corresponding numbers are shown on whether the specific parameters meet the given criteria or not. Educational materials, including video courses, brochures, and online platforms, will be offered to the parents in the first group. The validity of the measurements will be determined at periodic meetings with the responsible researchers who will monitor the participants’ body weights. Based on regular reviews, the results performed by the members and facilitators will be compared to highlight potential differences in the outcomes and identify possible errors and violations.
Description of the Intervention
At the beginning of the designated period, all the necessary tools will be distributed to ten families from the first group. The course of research will be explained, and during the specified period, meetings with the researchers will be held to perform control weighing and discuss subtotals. The second group will receive an appropriate set of medications, and periodic meetings will also be set. Essential medications are determined based on the individual needs of children. Among others, they will also include drugs addressing the risks of developing diabetes and other chronic diseases that often develop with excess weight (Weihrauch-BlĂĽher et al., 2018). Preliminary meetings with families will be held every month, and in one year, the outcomes will be summed up on the basis of biometric and clinical analyses.
Data Collection Procedures
The data collection procedures will be based on the receipt of information from the families involved in accordance with a pre-planned schedule. The main information to use is weight, but related parameters, particularly the energy value of foods and sleep patterns, should also be recorded. The meetings will be carried out in person since to achieve the validity of the results, measurements are required to be performed not only by the parents but also by the researchers. Based on the intermediate outcomes, appropriate recommendations will be given. In the case of incorrect measurements, comments will be made to the participants, and required changes to meal plans will be suggested accordingly.
References
Mi, S. J., Kelly, N. R., Brychta, R. J., Grammer, A. C., Jaramillo, M., Chen, K. Y., Fletcher, L. A., Bernstein, S. B., Courville, A. B., Shank, L. M., Pomeroy, J. J., Brady, S. M., Broadney, M. M., Tanofsku-Kraff, M., & Yanovski, J. A. (2019). Associations of sleep patterns with metabolic syndrome indices, body composition, and energy intake in children and adolescents. Pediatric Obesity, 14(6), e12507.
Weihrauch-BlĂĽher, S., Schwarz, P., & Klusmann, J. H. (2019). Childhood obesity: Increased risk for cardiometabolic disease and cancer in adulthood. Metabolism, 92, 147-152.