Major Policy Areas of Public Health Association of Australia - Coursework Example

Introduction Public Health Association of Australia in 2012 laid down health policies that were meant to be administered by the health sector and health institutions. These policies are meant to teach the people how to make healthy eating decisions. These policies are meant to develop health and nutrition in the community, and also mobilizing other sectors as education and agriculture. They (policies) also coordinate processes in the society such as dietary and hygiene (Public Health Association of Australia 2012, p. 1). Other PHAA policy statement includes: Promoting Healthy Weight Genetically modified foods Food Security for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Food and Nutrition monitoring and surveillance in Australia Marketing of food and beverages to children These policies are paramount to the health of Australian population which also is relevant to the rest of the population in other nations. World Health Organization agreed to the fact that nutrition is a major issue in both developed and developing countries. They also stated that changes in lifestyle and diet have increased in the past decade due to changes in things like industrialization (World Health Organisation 2003, p. 1). Major policy Areas The major areas of concentration of the food, nutrition and health policy in Australia is on the following elements: i. Food and beverages The Australian government insists that the food industry should promote healthy eating habits. In this respect, the Public Health Association of Australia has responsibility of ensuring healthy eating habits amongst the society. Healthy eating habits should be advocated as it’s the key element in healthy human development in all life stages. According to researchers, healthy eating plays a key role of reducing chronic diseases in Australia (Palermo 2008, p. 2). The Public Health Association of Australia also stated that foods vary across the lifecycle. This is in terms of the amount required in the body at different life stages (Public Health Association of Australia 2012, p. 2). ii. Nutrition and Diseases The Public Health Association of Australia cited a report on diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases (2003) done by both WHO and FAO, which gave a statement on the effect of foods on the human body, and common chronic diseases. The report showed how foods and beverages cause diseases such as various types of cancers. They said that foods with a high concentration of energy, fats and salt increase risks of non-communicable diseases (Public Health Association of Australia 2012, p. 3). iii. Overweight and obesity The Public Health Association of Australia gave a shocking report and statistics of the people affected with Overweight and obesity in Australia. They said that overweight is one of the greatest contributors to diseases mostly in old age. Overweight and obesity mostly caused energy imbalance between physical activities and energy consumed (Public Health Association of Australia 2012, p. 3). The stakeholders in the policy The stakeholders in the food, nutrition and health policy in Australia are the whole population of Australia. Food and Nutrition is a major concern to every human being because without food there is no life (Palermo, 2008). This policy touches all the population regardless of age, gender, and economic status. Based on the above survey by the National Health Survey in 2007-08, obesity affected both the children and adults. Policy focuses on both the poor and the rich because the poor suffer with under nutrition and the rich suffer from over nutrition. The desired outcomes of the policy The food, nutrition and health policy is important in ensuring that the entire Australian population is supplied with enough food and education on consumption of healthy food. The policy ensures that there is sufficient distribution of healthy food both in the rural and urban centers. The Public Health Association of Australia pointed out that most people in the rural areas lack access to healthy food unlike the urban residents because of poor transport (Inglis 2005, p. 7). The following are the outcomes of the food, nutrition and health policy as per the Public Health Association 2012 i. To ensure the development in food and nutrition policies and the leadership coordination and develop other public sectors like agriculture. ii. The population that is motivated to incorporate knowledge and skill development about food in consumption of healthy food and living healthy lives. iii. All the food and beverages produced by the food industry are good for health. iv. Ensure that food safety standards are enforced and reviewed after five years. Priority Areas of the Food, nutrition and health policies The Public Health Association of Australia has put more emphasis on good healthy food consumption for the Australian Population. The Public Health Association of Australia in the Food, nutrition and Health policies stated that all people should have access to quality food, and the major priority to be quality health, and this should be both at the local and national levels. Healthy eating is important to human development and reducing the risk of many chronic diseases (Palermo 2008, p. 8). Putting healthy food as a priority is in agreement with the report by the US Department of Health and Human Services, which stated that unhealthy eating cause 310,000-580,000 deaths every year (Health and Human Services 2013, p. 2). The report further stated clearly that almost two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese. According to a report by World health Organization and FAO on Diet, nutrition and prevention of chronic diseases, a good diet should be a priority in the quest for healthy lives. They further stated that diet is the main player of chronic diseases because the traditional foods have been replaced by modern foods which are mainly based of animal product. Physical inactivity is another contributor of chronic diseases, and this has been facilitated by industrialization in most countries including Australia. The other areas of the Food, nutrition and health policies include the promotion of healthy weight and prevention of overweight and obesity. Population should be educated on the pros and cons of genetically modified food. A report from USDHHS 2013 shows that 61% of American adults are overweight. This report further stated that the obesity in children has increased (Health and Human Services 2013, p. 2). Researchers argue that obesity among Australian children is growing at an alarming rate. A research, which was done by Maric (2013), stated that 63 % of Australian population is overweight or obese (Maric 2013). The Food, nutrition and health policy plays a crucial role of controlling obesity. The Food, nutrition and health policy is as a result of a comprehensive assessment of the current scientific evidence. It provides detailed, evidence based guidance for health practitioners to monitor and manage overweight and obesity. In addition, the policy give specific advice on weight management to adults and adolescents aged more than 18 years who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m2 and are at risk of, or have, one or more overweight or obesity-related cases. Children and adolescents aged between 2 and 18 years who have a BMI greater than the 85th percentile are encouraged to seek advice from medical practitioners. This includes infants and children under 2 years of age who demonstrate rapid weight gain. Change of lifestyle behaviours is also advocated. The policy also recommends that medical fraternity, mostly the nurses to be trained on modern technologies to address obesity cases. That would not only improve service delivery, but also offer best practices in the medical profession. Conclusion In conclusion, food, nutrition and health policy is a fundamental health policy that’s cuts across every stage of human life regardless of age, gender and economic status. The stakeholders to this policy include every human being in Australian population. Therefore, the main aim of this policy is to ensure that that the entire Australian population is supplied with enough food and education on consumption of healthy food. The policy is also meant to ensure that there is adequate distribution of healthy food both in the rural and urban centers. The Public Health Association of Australia has set as a priority to ensure the entire Australian populations consume healthy foods. This will eradicate the emergence of chronic diseases as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and reduce the obesity of the population. References Health and Human Services. (2013). Why good Nutrition is Important. Retrieved 05 16, 2014, from www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy Inglis, B. &. (2005). Access to a healthy diet and fast foods in the City of Casey. Maric, C 2013, Obesity and diabetic kidney disease Med Clin N Am. 97(1): 59-74 Palermo, C. (2008). The cost of healthy food in rural Victoria, Rural and Remote Health. Retrieved 05 15, 2014, from http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew Public Health Association of Australia. (2012). Public Health Association of Australia, 2012, Policy at a glance, Food, Nutrition and Health Policy. Retrieved 05 15, 2014, from http://www.phaa.net.au/documents/130201_Food%20Nutrition%20and%20Health%20Policy%20FINAL.pdf World Health Organisation. (2003). Report of the Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Disease. Retrieved 05 15, 2014, from http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/trs916/en/ Read More