response one and two -epdi-02
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Responseoneandtwo-Epdi-02.docxResponse one
2-2 Discussion: Prevention Strategies in Epidemiology
Overweight and obesity continue to be a leading health concern in the United States. It is estimated that up to 400,000 obesity-related deaths occur per year in America. Literature has shown that overweight and obesity are major causes of co-morbidity, including type II diabetes, various cancers, cardiovascular diseases and other heath problems. A person is considered overweight or obese when their weight is greater than what is generally considered healthy for their height. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement that helps to figure out if you’re at a healthy weight for your height. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703. An adult is considered overweight if their BMI is greater or equal to twenty-five. An adult is considered obese if their BMI is greater than or equal to thirty. The average American man and woman are 190 pounds and 163 pounds respectively according to the National Center for Health Statistics (Montgomery, 2008).
Epidemiological research is key to prevention of disease. Research on disease etiology is helpful in determining where in the disease’s natural history effective intervention might be implemented. Leavell and Clark, in the late 1940’s, were the first to describe the principles of disease prevention using the terms primary, secondary and tertiary prevention (Friis & Sellers, 2014). Primary prevention seeks to prevent a condition or disease at a pre-pathological state. The goal is to stop the condition or disease from ever happening. Primary prevention for overweight and obesity would be working together with policy makers, businesses, schools, childcare and healthcare professionals, state and local organizations to create an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle. Primary prevention differs from secondary and tertiary prevention in that secondary prevention focuses on early disease detection and intervention and tertiary prevention aims to control established disease and limit the amount of disability (Friis & Sellers, 2014). Secondary prevention for overweight and obesity would include defining obesity with BMI, education and explanation of the disease by the primary care physician, necessary changes in nutrition and physical activity. Tertiary prevention for overweight and obesity includes physical activity, weight loss, low carbohydrate diet, behavior therapy and nutritionists.
There are many national and state-level prevention policies and legislation in place to prevent or reduce obesity. For example, the federal government, in 2006-2007, began requiring all school districts with a federally funded school meal program to develop and implement wellness policies that address nutrition and physical activity. Steps to a Healthier US program is program administered by the Centers for Disease Control in 2003 that enables communities to develop action plans to prevent disease to lower the prevalence of obesity for example (Nihiser, Merlo, & Lee, 2013). These policies play a key role in improving access to healthy food and increasing physical activity which are essential for promoting a healthy weight.
References
Friis, R. H., & Sellers, T. A. (2014). Epidemiology for Public Health Practice (5th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Montgomery, B. (2008). The American Obesity Epidemic: Why the U.S. Government Must Attack the Critical Problems of Overweight & Obesity through Legislation Note. Journal of Health & Biomedical Law, 4, 375–412. Retrieved from https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/jhbio4&i=386
Nihiser, A., Merlo, C., & Lee, S. (2013). Preventing Obesity through Schools. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 41, 27–34. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lpb&AN=93877410&site=eds-live&scope=site
According to Friis and Sellers, 2014, a key role of public health is the primary prevention of disease. This is especially true in the case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Today, prevention of HIV is the optimal situation since how to prevent HIV has been identified. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that in the United States the number of adults over the age of 50 living with HIV is on the rise. The CDC notes two reasons for this increase: people with HIV are living longer and more adults over the age of 50 are being diagnosed with HIV. In 2010, in the United States there were 1.1 million people living with HIV and about 20 percent of them were people over the age of 55 (Davis, Teaster, Thronton, Watkins, Alexander & Zaniani, 2016).
Primary care providers are on the frontline of this changing statistic for HIV in people over the age of 50. These providers are caring for the people over 50, and they represent the largest number of health care consumers. These providers can offer primary prevention by becoming more comfortable with discussing sexuality with these patients and confirming, especially with women, that they are utilizing condoms. By screening their patients, they can offer secondary prevention for those that need to know their HIV status (Davis et al., 2016). Many primary care providers are providing tertiary care for patients with HIV to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) with preventive treatments such as prescribing lipid-modifying medicines to minimize their patient’s risk of developing CVD (Jones-Parker, 2012).
In July 2010, the United States released its first plan to address HIV, The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), the plan was updated in 2015, none of the goals changed. The goals are: to reduce the number of new HIV infections; improve access to HIV treatment in order to improve the health of those living with HIV/AIDS; decrease HIV health inequities and improve the coordination of the national response to the HIV epidemic. The CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) aligned its goals with the NHAS to assist states in protecting and preventing their residents from the risk of HIV and those already living with HIV (CDC, 2015).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (December 2015). State HIV prevention progress report, 2010 – 2013. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/policies/progressreports/cdc-hiv-stateprogressreport.pdf
Davis, T., Teaster, P. B., Thornton, A., Watkins, J. F., Alexander, L., & Zanjani, F. (2016). Primary Care Providers’ HIV Prevention Practices Among Older Adults. Journal Of Applied Gerontology: The Official Journal Of The Southern Gerontological Society, 35(12), 1325–1342. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&d b=cmedm&AN=25736425&site=eds-live&scope=site
Friis, R. H., Sellers, T. A. (2014). Epidemiology for Public Health Practice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Jones-Parker, H., (March-April 2012). Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of cardiovascular disease in patients with HIV disease: A Guide for Nurse Practitioners. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 23(2), 124-133.
