Running header: ILLNESS AND DISEASE 1
Globally obesity has become not only a cosmetic concern but a medical problem that many individuals have been dealing with, and most surprisingly, many people turn a blind eye. Obesity is instead a complex medical condition that involves the existence of excess fat amounts in the body. It is a shame that many individuals don't take these issues seriously, and, in most cases, obese people are called gluttonous and food lovers. Obesity is a concern as this illness increases the risk of other impending diseases including diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure, as well as in some cases, certain cancers. Nearly two-thirds of adult males and over half of women adults, according to Jackson et al. (2007), are overweight or obese. From these statistics, it is my conclusion that obesity is a health concern to the American community as individuals experiencing this illness are at a danger of developing severe comorbidities. This might increase the pressure being an experiment in our health system, especially as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. This paper will look deeper into the national resources that can be used to curb and deal with this illness—all the prevention strategies and management of obesity.
My primary concern will be childhood obesity, as it is a concern that has not been discussed and elaborated as it opted to. The reason for addressing childhood obesity is because, many obesity cases that have been identified and recorded, more than three quarters are transitions from childhood, and thus, giving the children obesity more emphasis can significantly reduce adulty obesity, which currently has turned fatal. Larsen et al. (2006) state that in every five children, one child is faced with a chance of being obese or overweight. This has sparked significant concerns in the United States health ministry as these kinds of children are leading unhealthy life characteristic that makes the situation even worse.
Obesity is rapidly escalating in our society, and major concerns are that obesity can result in serious illnesses such as heart attacks and failure, which are fatal. “Children that are overweight are at risk of a variety of cardiovascular health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, orthopedic problems, skin disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, sleep apnea and emotional distress related to self-image and perception.” (Larsen, 2006). During childhood, a couple of live style choices can lead to childhood obesity. These behaviors include food choices where a child is given or exposes to lots of junk foods with cholesterol and fats eh fast foods, lack of physical exercise, and also general unhealthy family eating habits. What a child is exposed to scientifically can influence their way of living; thus, exposing children to poor eating habits may transition to adulthood leading to adult obesity. According to Melnyk, (2008), “Various key factors cause children and adolescent obesity epidemic, including increased sedentary behaviors like television watching, computer, and video games. Alongside an accompanying decrease in sedentary activities and changes in dietary patterns, large portions and fast foods, advertisement of junk foods".
Primary health resources.
This part deals with the prevention and all strategies that can be put in place to curb obesity. This means that these are strategies that, if implemented, are aimed at the prevention of obesity from development and its progression (Melnyk, 2008). As a way of sensitization, the government, through the ministry of health, there has been numerous campaigns on the need to exercise healthy eating habits at all costs. The government of the United States has been encouraging its citizens to processes food and fast food as they contain high levels of cholesterol, which when ingested especially by children, tends to increase the level of obesity. Additionally, campaigns such as childhood obesity awareness have been initiated as aware of sensitizing parents on the dangers of obesity to their children and also some of the prevention ways.
A program such as "We can!" has been established to enhance children’s activity and nutrition. This program has been based on different behavior changes in children, such as Special cognitive theory, Community organization theory, and the Diffusion of innovation theory. In this program, also children are taught essential skills to keep healthy such as making fresh fruit juices and eating vegetables instead of processed foods.
Exposing children to such programs at tender ages can enable then to become actively involved I their diets. Additionally, parents also gain skills on how to keep their children healthy. Most of these programs are free as they are government-sponsored; however, some are private, and a specific fee is paid. The payment might seem much, but it has a massive turnover to the heath on one’s children. The schools also have such programs in school to sensitize children on the same issue. This has seen the majority of a school banning junk foods, soft drinks and foods contain fats and high sugar content as lunch for the students, especially is lower grade classes. Prevention programs within primary schools enhance the healthy lifestyles of students thus can be a means of preventing childhood obesity. (Fulton, 2001).
Secondary health resources.
Management and prevention of disease fall under secondary health promotion. This part I'll look at the diagnosis and screening programs aimed at identifying the illness at the early stages. Most obese cases are as a result of an individual not watching on their health and thus become overweight with time leading to less or absolutely no control over their health. It is paramount to note that obesity can be caused by other non-dietary issues such as family history as well as parental obesity. Thus, prevention factors in children should e aimed at the families battling with this illness and other secondary causes. This indicates that children whose parents are obese should be screened to determine early obesity fragments, thus breaking the cycle.
Implementing these measures is quite tricky as most families with poor health live styles are disadvantaged financially. As a result, most of these children are not screened, thus risking attaining obesity.
Early detection is a step ahead of curbing the development of obesity. The screen of children will enhance the chances of identifying developing cases, and children who are found with obesity like characteristics are put into programs that will help solve the impending danger. Additionally, weight reduction measures should be carried out to enable children to attain appropriate weight. This is achieved through the use of body mass index (BMI) that measures height and weight according to the age of an individual (Jackson, 2007). Health practitioners have introduced programs with the aid of the federal government that is aimed at monitoring weight and obesity-related factors in children. This program seeks to identify any anomalies in the weight of a child, and when a case is determining the family is involved in the situation.
Tertiary health resources.
These are resources put in place aimed at the reduction of the effects brought about by obesity and subsequently preventing reoccurrence. The main target here is those already affected by battling and recovering from obesity. The groups at high risk of obesity are the most concerned because of various occurrences such as lack of exercise, poor health management, and intake of processed foods with high fat and sugar content. Children with obese parents and relatives are at a much higher risk of becoming overweight as the lifestyles of the members have a considerable impact on their lives. "Parental obesity increases likelihood of obesity development in children. High parental BMI is one of the strongest predictors for childhood obesity" (Larsen, 2006).
Health diets and management, together with exercises when introduced at tender ages, can curb the occurrence of obesity in children.
Surgical procedures can also be applied in cases of extreme cases where the extra and excess fats are withdrawn from an individual’s body by professional doctors. This can be a way of promoting weight loss; however, these procedures are often costly, and thus majority cannot afford it. This puts such individuals at a higher risk of succumbing to obesity. Surgical procedures are not the healthiest means of weight loss; thus, it is not recommended as it can also have its health complications and effects.
Conclusion
Even though resources have been put in place to fight this pandemic and its reduction, little is being done by individuals especially parents and adulty to implement healthy lifestyles and appropriate eating habits, and this is cause increased cases of obesity in children. Therefore, for the concerned groups and relevant healthy stakeholders to put more measures that should protect children from developing obesity, such as introducing dedicated life skills lessons aimed at teaching young children the need and ways of watching on what they eat and their health. Additionally, there should be more campaigns to sensitize parents on the advantages of practicing healthy lifestyles, especially at home. In summary, a few measures can be implemented as a way of dealing with this illness: Heavy gaming and television watching should be discouraged, especially in young children. Exposing children to gaming and television for long periods makes then become stationarily in houses and thus reduces their chances of exercise; therefore, television time should be cut and children allowed to go out and play or engage in other activities such as bike riding and swimming. Junk intake should be discouraged, and the promotion of healthy living encouraged.
References
Lobstein, T., & JACKSON‐LEACH, R. A. C. H. E. L. (2007). Child overweight and obesity in the USA: prevalence rates according to IOTF definitions. International journal of pediatric obesity, 2(1), 62-64.
Larsen, L., Mandleco, B., Williams, M., & Tiedeman, M. (2006). Childhood obesity: Prevention practices of nurse practitioners. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 18(2), 70-79.
Larsen, J. K., Hermans, R. C., Sleddens, E. F., Engels, R. C., Fisher, J. O., & Kremers, S. P. (2015). How parental dietary behavior and food parenting practices affect children's dietary behavior. Interacting sources of influence?. Appetite, 89, 246-257.
Cole, T. J., Flegal, K. M., Nicholls, D., & Jackson, A. A. (2007). Body mass index cut offs to define thinness in children and adolescents: international survey. Bmj, 335(7612), 194.
Small, L., Anderson, D., & Melnyk, B. M. (2007). Prevention and early treatment of overweight and obesity in young children: A critical review and appraisal of the evidence. In Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK).
Fulton, J. E., Burgeson, C. R., Perry, G. R., Sherry, B., Galuska, D. A., Alexander, M. P., ... & Caspersen, C. J. (2001). Assessment of physical activity and sedentary behavior in preschool-age children: priorities for research. Pediatric Exercise Science, 13(2), 113-126.