Metabolic Disease in Children - Assignment Example

University> Metabolic Disease in Children by Part 1 I am excited to be taking the HSN 3-2 Population unit and I deem this a great opportunity to gain several skills and knowledge on various public health issues. Indeed, public health is a paramount area that affects all communities, and I am looking forward to improve my communication and research skills. In addition, I believe that the unit will allow me to explain the role of public health approaches in providing solutions to nutritional deficiencies and undertake independent research work. During the writing of the assignment, I believe that I will galvanise my research skills and gain knowledge on nutritional issues and their impact on population not to mention enabling me to work independently. Moreover, I am confident the assignment will help me learn how to formulate programs health care programs and communicate effectively. Indeed, the unit will transform my understanding of the intricate connection between public health and nutritional issues of public importance. Part 2 Definition, prevalence and cause of child obesity The number of health challenges facing children are immense, but metabolic disorders continue to pose a significant to the health of children population in Australia and other parts of the world alike. Metabolic diseases refer to health disorders that affect the normal functions of body metabolic functions. Metabolic diseases compromise of a wide array of metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, fat oxidation effects, lysomal storage diseases as well as type II diabetes (Bray & Champagne, 2004). Indeed, the pandemic of metabolic diseases represent a wide array of diseases, but some of the diseases are more prevalent than others are. Despite the variation of the metabolic diseases, such diseases constitute metabolic syndrome with some other diseases that are responsible for health complications such as dyslipidaemia and hypertension that affect children and adults. Metabolic diseases is one of the health challenges facing population of modern economies like Australia, Britain and the United States. The impact of metabolic diseases are diverse and is the main thrust behind concerns that a significant part of world communities suffer from the epidemic. In Australia, the prevalence of metabolic disease syndrome is of a growing concern. A wealth of research indicate that metabolic disease are on the rise in Australia among children and adolescents (Mark & Rodney, 2007). The increasing number of children with metabolic disease reflect the growing need to stem increase in metabolic diseases such as obesity and other similar diseases. In Australia, many children are overweight while others have negative body fattening, which represent a growth in the number metabolic diseases. Moreover, there prevalence of overweight and obese children shows some disparity between children in urban and rural areas. There are more children with obesity or abnormal disposition in urban areas than in rural neighbourhoods (Kelishadi et al., 2007). In addition, there are several studies, which indicate that aboriginal population experience high levels of metabolic diseases. For instance, Luke et al. (2013) indicate in their study that Queensland aboriginal community manifest high levels of cardiovascular disease than other population cohort. The research work of Anthony et al (2003) confirmed that number of children with Crohn’s disease had grown from 0.128 to 2.0 over the last three decades. Indeed, the increase of the Chron’s and other metabolic disease is a significant indicator that is worrying health practitioners. The increase of metabolic disease is a complex phenomenon with a plethora of risk factors contributing to the trend. There is no single cause of obesity, but different factors are responsible for the rising number of children with metabolic diseases. Some population with low socioeconomic traits have high cases of metabolic diseases such as obesity. This point out those poor socioeconomic factors to be contributors of metabolic diseases. In addition, some communities are predisposed to metabolic diseases than others. This explains why the Aboriginal communities have high incidence of metabolic diseases than other communities in Queensland. A triad of factors explain why metabolic diseases are of fundamental concern and a nagging public health problem. There are some communities where values and beliefs about weight status and food remain a bottleneck in the realization of healthy lifestyles. Many of the vulnerable families have poor dieting patterns exposing children to energy intense food that have poor nutrient. Fast foods among vulnerable communities are a reason why there is an increase in obese children. The perception of various communities on their weight status is another factor that has fuelled child obesity in vulnerable communities. In some communities, there could be perception about status of individuals due to their weight and where overweight is an emphasis, children are most likely to become obese and overweight. Birch and Ventura (2009) argue that a lack of knowledge on health status among children galvanize the prevalence of obesity among children. For instance, children of aboriginal families regard weight status as vital in their community motivating lifestyles that lead to children having high weight status (Pigford et al., 2012). The weight status among the aboriginal children is an exemplary case of how perception and traditional worldview influence public health issues. Lack of physical activity and an increasing lifestyle patterns among Australian children is another cause of large cases of metabolic diseases among Australian children. According to Pigford et al., (2012) few families allow children to have adequate recommendations, which increase their vulnerability to metabolic diseases such as obesity. Where barriers prevent children from taking part in daily activities, there are equally high chances of children becoming obese. While lack of physical activity is one of the causes compound the issue of metabolic diseases, a combination of many factors have merged making metabolic diseases an epidemic. Access to healthy food is another factor with significant impact on metabolic diseases in Australia. Several research works have explored the link between food access and incidence of metabolic diseases. The ease of access to fast food restaurant is one cause of obesity among children. According to Oreskovic et al. (2009), children who live closer to fast-food restaurant are more likely to have greater BMI than those who live far from such establishments. Indeed, access to built environment is another factor that relate to obesity among children. Some features of built environment encourage high use of energy, but other promote sedentary lifestyle that promote weight increase among children. However, access to sidewalks and bicycles are some of the features that promote low BMI and reduce children’s vulnerability to child obesity. Why Metabolic Diseases Is a Public Health Nutrition Issue and Justification of Health Approach over a Clinical Intervention Metabolic diseases remain a challenge to public health professionals because of the ramifications metabolic disorders cause. In Australia and other parts of the globe, metabolic diseases such as obesity present a challenge because it exposes children and adults to an array of co-morbidities (Haysom,et al., 2009). The occurrence of metabolic disease has been synonymous with the presence of other diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, which have acute and long-term effect on human population. In many cases, incidences of metabolic diseases co-exist with the development of diseases such as lipid alterations and other risk factors. The fact that metabolic disorders multiply vulnerable of affected persons make the epidemic of significant to public health professionals (Ebbling et al., 2002). The high number of children with metabolic diseases present a huge challenge to health professionals because the epidemic sets a state for various cardiovascular diseases. Overweight Children are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases more than those with low BMI are (Chen, Roberts, & Barnard, 2006). The hallmark of metabolic diseases are cardiovascular diseases, which could create far-reaching impact on the population. Indeed, various research work report a high correlation between cardiovascular diseases and metabolic diseases. Due to obesity among children, many children could suffer from risks such as elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance and other co-morbidities (Cook et al, 2003; Vincent et al, 2003). Such metabolic abnormalities have serious ramification on the health of children as the effect transitions from adolescence into adulthood. With public health being concerned with the health of populations, prevalence of metabolic abnormalities create an array of challenges. The prevalence of metabolic diseases and its ramification brings into focus a nutrition dimension in the epidemic. The cause of metabolic disorders are varied, but nutrition plays a great role in increasing or reducing its prevalence. Dixon et al (2009) agree that lack of early childhood nutrition could predispose children to a lifetime characterized by obesity. This research work contextualise the role of nutrition in escalating or reducing cases of metabolic epidemic among children. Indeed, there is significant evidence that highlight the role of severe malnutrition in fuelling metabolic diseases among children. With poor nutrition being one of the risk factor behind metabolic diseases such as obesity, public health professionals are a vital reason to consider the impact nutrition on the heath of population such as children. Indeed, tacking the issue of metabolic from nutrition perspective remain an effective trajectory. The issue of metabolic disease epidemic is best approached using nutritional strategies rather than clinical interventions. Today, there many clinical interventions that are a relive to children with metabolic diseases, but are expensive and less effective. For instance, Dixon et al (2009) discuss some of the intervention for metabolic obesity in children. While important, Dixon et al (2009) indicate that surgical intervention to metabolic disease expose children to surgical immediate and future risks. Apart from the risks of clinical intervention, attaining compliance could be a challenge not to mention the cost of procuring clinical services. With regard to clinical intervention, Mark and Rodney (2007) note that some of the clinical intervention require continuous monitoring and measuring of children. On the other hand, nutritional approaches offer a robust way of dealing with metabolic diseases. With nutritional approaches, it is possible to combat the challenge of metabolic diseases much earlier in life and in a more effective way than using clinical interventions. Justification of the Issue and the Target group In Australia, there are many children with metabolic diseases than adults. This implies that children are likely to face the serious threat of metabolic disease epidemic as they transition from youth to adulthood. As compared to adults, children with metabolic diseases such as obesity are more likely to experience other negative impacts than adults do. For instance, overweight or obese have likely to lose self-esteem (Elizabeth et al, 2008). In addition, prevalence of metabolic diseases among children could affect their interaction and schooling further complicating their prospect as adults. With children being a high number, it is essential to address metabolic epidemic among children through a robust and effective program. Review of Recent programs Various Australian interventions have attempted to address the impact of metabolic diseases among children. One such program is the Be Active Eat well. The program excelled in reducing the time children spend on TV, as well as creating changes in menus among the target population. However, it failed to include other measures and indicators of success save for waist circumference (Sanigorski, 2008). Another program was the Swith-Play. This program excelled on using physical activity to motivated exercise among children (Lobstein, Baur& Uauy, 2004). However, the program did not succeed where only one form of approach was in use--- fundamental movement or behaviour modification. A new strategy to combat public metabolic disease would be a program that focus on nutrition, physical activity and behavioural aspect of population. First, it would be important for this program to focus on enabling parents provide children with the appropriate nutritional requirement. This will enable them combat the metabolic epidemic. In addition, the federal government could help children from disadvantaged groups to access quality food. Such a program will help children from poor socio-economic background to receive adequate nutrient that promote healthy dietary pattern. Behavioural and physical aspects of the program would simply reinforce the nutritional component of the intervention plan. The proposal require significant resources, but is robust in approaching the issue of metabolic diseases. Part 3 During the assignment, I learn the vital role of public health professionals and their focus on improving wellbeing of various population. I also learnt about the intricate relationship between nutrition and disease prevention. The research enabled me to acquire research and evaluation skills. I look forward to using the skills in using research to understand public health issues along with developing appropriate interventions and communicating my findings. Reference List ANDERSON, M. ELLIOTT, E. J. &, ZURYNSKI, Y. (2013). Australian families living with rare disease: experiences of diagnosis, health services use and needs for psychosocial support. Journal of Rare Diseases 8(22): pp. 1-9 BIRCH, L. L., & VENTURA A. K. (2009). 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