HSA 535 WK2 App of Epidemiology and Childhood Obesity and Smoking - Assignment Example

Epidemiology and childhood obesity and smoking al affiliation App of Epidemiology and Childhood Obesity and Smoking Application of epidemiology in childhood obesity is the major way through which, the government and the health sector at large can be able to curb the menace that is raging most of the states today. Epidemiology is an integral part of medicine, which has to be utilised to mitigate the effects any disease. Epidemiological application in any study will be very beneficial in ensuring that there are optimal measures put in place to tackle a particular problem.

The study will enable one to find out the incidence and distribution of these health problems at the same time enabling one to establish possible control and preventive measures by establishing factors relating to the disease. In the fight of obesity and smoking, there are various plans that have developed by various state to mitigate the effects and their preferences. To optimise the effects of the measures put in place, there is need to utilise the following five steps. First there is need to put in place stringent laws on people smoking in public areas, the laws should be explicit and all inclusive to ensure that there is no loophole whatsoever in its implementation.

At the same time there is need to ensure that, healthy foods are available at much cheaper prices and accessibility more than the unhealthy foods. There is need also to ensure that, there are guidelines put in places where the affected people interact. These areas include schools and at home for parents use. Furthermore, there is need to ensure that there is a conducive environment that provide social amenities that ensure healthy physical practices. Lastly, there is need to incorporate the study of health lifestyle in the education system which is important in nurturing the habits of the young ones.

Arletha response I agree that in determining epidemiology of a disease, there is need to be specific and through while tracking the history and lifestyle of the patients. The following interventions will be very important, they include, isolating, and classifying affected people, then get the demographics of the affected people, study similarities of the cohort in terms of the disease effect, then study the genetic predisposition after that there is need to put in place preventive measures and disease control measures.

(Haidar & Cosman, 2011). Georgia being the tenth state in the United States in terms of obesity is heart breaking and needs a swift action to deal with the problem. It is true that, funding the schools to check on nutrition programs and physical actives alone, will not be able to meet the need. The most important bit in controlling obesity is education on lifestyle, eating habits and the diseases itself. This will go a long way in modifying both the children and parents eating behaviour over time.

Peter’s response The plans put in place are less effective as reported by Peter Ogbebor, in his response on the effectiveness of the contingency plans to fight obesity. To start with, the fight of obesity entirely depends on the way children are brought up, the teachings and the environment that they are provided with. He notes that, failure to nurture children from a tender age to practice healthy eating and physical activity; is likely to make them develop childhood obesity, which spills over to adulthood.

In addition to the environment in schools, which is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle, the children back at home are taken care by parents who sometimes do not have the right information on the types of foods that are healthy for their children. The program has to be incorporated in the school curriculum targeting children from a tender age, so that they can grow with the knowledge and practicing the same (Berenson, 2012). Besides, the anti-smoking laws in Georgia leave a gap that gives smokers a chance to smoke in some places that can contaminate public gatherings.

Therefore, the ethos of the law are likely not to be met no unless the wordings of the laws are explicit and comprehensiveReferencesBerenson, G. S. (2012). Health Consequences of Obesity. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. doi:10.1002/pbc.23373Haidar, Y. M., & Cosman, B. C. (2011). Obesity epidemiology. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1295684