Obesity in Scotland and its Impact on Economy - Essay Example

? Community Health & Social Care Introduction Scotland is among the nations with the highest incidences of obesity in OECD countries and runs third after United States and Mexico. In Scotland, more than a million adults and over 200,000 children are obese. The situation is predicted to get worse by the year 2030, and public health care experts predict that over 40% of Scottish adults will be obese by that time. In 2008, available statistics indicated that 26.8% of adults living in Scotland suffered from obesity, and 65.1% were overweight. On the other hand, 15.1% of children in Scotland were obese, and 31.1% were overweight in the year 2008 (Acton 2011, p. 7). In 2007/2008, it is estimated that persons affected by obesity in Scotland consumed a national budget of more than 457 Euros. As a result of the increasing incidences of obesity and overweight cases, the cost is predicted to increase further to an estimate of 0.9-3 billion Euros by 2030. These statistics provided fact based evidence to the Scottish government prompting it to declare obesity an epidemic. Following this declaration, a lot has been done by the Scottish government and stakeholders in the health sector to combat the obesity epidemic. Government and local authority initiatives include the establishment of key policies and guidelines focusing on creating a population made of persons with normal BMI (Donnelley 2010, p. 5). In any country, a healthy population is vital for the purpose of attaining a flourishing economy. Countries with large populations of people suffering from chronic medical conditions are likely to have a slow economic growth. The Scottish government has pointed out that obesity and overweight pose a real risk to the wellbeing of its population and the entire economy. Therefore, attainment of a sustainable economy in Scotland faces serious challenges in the future due to the rising incidences of obesity (Noya & Clarence 2009, p. 47). A general overview on obesity and its impacts Obesity is a medical condition that arises as a result of an excess of body fat. Obesity is determined using the body mass index (BMI), which is derived using a person’s weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. A person is overweight when the BMI is greater than 25 while obesity is a BMI value of 30 and over. Obesity reduces the quality of a person’s life and makes a person vulnerable to a lot of serious medical complications. Persons suffering from obesity are highly vulnerable to medical complications such as osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases and certain cancers. With such medical complications within a society, health facilities experience a serious strain as well as high mortality rates (Andersen 2003, p. 18). The World Health Organisation points out that the number of people who are obese is higher than the number of overweight people across the world. Drastic change in lifestyle is the main contributing factor to this phenomenon, where many people have tuned to sedentary lifestyles. This lifestyle does not demand a lot physically. In today’s modern world, majority of people are using personal cars, washing machines, lifts and computers, making them less physically active most of the time. Leisure times such as watching TV while eating foods that have high calorie levels increases further a person’s risk of being obese (Ostman & Britton 2008, p. 71). The environment we are living in is playing a key role in encouraging people to eat more and do less exercise. Therefore, the global obesity epidemic is influenced by environmental or social factors. Examples of such environments prevail when food manufacturers encourage people to take energy dense drinks and snacks through advertisements on TVs. The two main ways through which the occurrence of obesity can be reduced are through improving diet and engaging in a lot of physical activities. In Scotland, similar issues are evident as the main causes of the obesity epidemic in the country (Gard 2010, p. 37). The Scottish government predicts that, due to the increasing prevalence of obesity, over 900,000 people will have high blood pressure, over 150,000 will have type 2 Diabetes, and over 50,000 will have heart attacks by 2030 (Donnelley 2010, p. 8). Scottish government input in fighting the obesity epidemic The Scottish government is on the fore front in fighting the obesity epidemic. Between 2008 and 2011, the Scottish government spent over 200 million Euros directly or indirectly in activities aimed at fighting the epidemic. This money includes cash derived from the health budget but excludes contributions from NHS, local government and NDPBS. This figure shows a significant level of effort that the Scottish government has put in addressing healthy weight outcomes. In addition to this effort, numerous policies and initiatives across portfolios are available to ensure that incidences of obesity have declined. The main objectives of these initiatives are to spend more on prevention rather than on treatment of obesity and other related medical complications (Gard 2010, p. 44). It is necessary to note that the majority of Scottish government actions in fighting obesity occur as secondary benefits while trying to achieve other primary goals. However, there are plans to put healthy weight outcomes among the explicit objectives within the government’s plans. These plans are evident through the introduction of obesity route map action plan (Keating 2010, p. 82). The obesity route map action plan The Scottish government focuses on creating a population comprised of persons with a BMI of 18.5-25, which is the normal range recognised by the medical professionals. The BMI should persist throughout a person’s life in order to avoid the adverse consequences associated with obesity. To achieve such a BMI range, stringent measures must be undertaken, and the government has put down three courses of action. The first action is to prevent weight gain in people with normal weight and those suffering from overweight. The second action is to reduce weight in overweight and obese persons. The final action is to prevent serious medical complications in persons who are obese (Donnelley 2010, p. 8). In order to achieve this goal, the government came up with obesity route map action plan. The plan came into place on 17th March 2011. The plan details the actions the Scottish government in collaboration with other partners will undertake in trying to address the increasing prevalence of obesity in Scotland. A joint obesity group is responsible for updating the action plan on a regular basis in order to keep the government informed on the progress (Donnelley 2010, p. 11). The action plan has several sections and section six of the plan provides the preventative measures that the government aims to undertake as the initial steps. The steps include regulations on energy consumption, which regulates exposure, demand and consumption of high calorific foodstuffs. The second measure looks into energy expenditure and encourages people to engage in physical activities and minimise sedentary lifestyles. The third measure takes care of early life time habits that will enhance positive, healthy behaviours in future. The final measure looks into work behaviours and puts a responsibility on organisations to create healthy work environments for employees. There is no doubt that to achieve the four goals requires a solid strategic plan and ample investments. Short and medium plans are also available to ensure that the four goals are achieved as per the Scottish government plan (Donnelley 2010, p. 13). The route map focuses mainly on prevention of obesity and pays less attention to management and treatment of obesity. However, the government shows immense commitments in ensuring that management and treatment of obesity in Scotland is affordable. The government has also introduced awareness campaigns to raise awareness on dangers of obesity. In addition, the government is also financing extensive research on obesity as well as conducting regular assessments on the action plan. In an effort to ensure that the route map becomes a success, a joint governmental leadership group comprised of ministers COSLA leaders, and NHS is in place (Donnelley 2010, p. 29). The final outcomes of the action plan will have children who have the best start of life, people with a higher life expectancy and reduced inequality in Scotland. Furthermore, key developments will be observed in environments where people live, reduced environmental pollution and the emergence of communities responsible for their own health. The government admits that achieving its main objective will take many years, but the best time to start it is now before the epidemic get worse (Donnelley 2010, p. 29). Efforts by the local authorities The local authorities in Scotland are also in the fore front in fighting the obesity epidemic both directly and indirectly. The local authority achieves its contributions through national outcomes and local priorities in the single outcome agreements. Examples of contributions by local authorities include campaigns such as active schools and hungry for success. Other initiatives include development of cycle pathways, walking paths, and sports ground and leisure facilities. Schools in regions of Scotland that have a high prevalence of obesity have free feeding programs with foods of low calorific level. Their campaigns have also extended into workplaces, urging employers to develop environments that enhance physical activities (Donnelley 2010, p.13). In North Lanarkshire, schools give priority to children growth, development and educational needs. Therefore, schools play a key role as one of local authorities in the region in fighting the obesity epidemic through offering healthy and nutritious diets to children. These measures reduce the risk of obesity and other medical complications in school going schools. Lanarkshire has other partners such as NHS Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire leisure limited and volunteers from the community and private sectors. These partners play a key role in ensuring that policies and guidelines meant to alleviate obesity in the region are implemented (Noya & Clarence 2009, p. 51). Importance of the obesity epidemic in nursing practice Persons in the nursing profession have a key role to play in helping the Scottish government rescuing its people from obesity epidemic. People in the nursing profession have duties to treat people with obesity, screening children for obesity and conducting continuous studies on obesity. However, people in the health profession point out that other professionals from fields of education, sports and leisure, and food manufactures should be involved fully in fighting obesity. Parents should also not be left behind in combating obesity since they are the ones responsible for providing their children with food (Waters 2011, p. 32). The role played by nurses is otherwise particularly crucial since only persons in the health profession can provide fact based evidence to other professionals. Therefore, people in the nursing profession should strive to keep themselves updated with the knowledge to fight obesity. The government and other leading stakeholders in the Scottish health sector should ensure that all nurses have relevant training in combating obesity. Nurses working in schools and other nonclinical places must ensure that they deliver sound results from their work (Linsley & Kane 2011, p. 63). Nurses in the medical profession have the duty to initiate a teaching process regarding obesity to all patients they encounter in health facilities. This initiative should specifically target children in order to create a strong early life foundation. Nurses should promote the importance of breastfeeding to all breastfeeding mothers to prevent cases of early childhood weaning. The latter is among the leading causes of obesity in childhood. The Scottish government has issued its health professionals with guidelines and protocols that will help them combat childhood obesity (Freemark 2010, p. 111). Conclusion The Scottish government has already declared obesity as an epidemic, which requires urgent attention if the future generation is to be free from obesity. Cases of obesity not only have adverse effects on the person affected by the condition, but also the entire nation due to reduced productivity of its population. Causes of obesity are mainly as a result of poor lifestyles comprised of too much intake of high energy foods without sufficient physical activities. In Scotland, incidences of obesity are rising at an alarming rate, a fact that has influenced the government to come up with an action plan to fight obesity. The action plan has policies and guidelines aimed at coming up with a population where a majority of people has the desired BMI. Local authorities are also fully dedicated in ensuring that the obesity epidemic is addressed accordingly. Attaining the objectives of the action plan is not an easy task for the Scottish government, but relevant strategies are there to ensure the objectives are achieved. With all measures in place, Scotland predicted to have an obesity free generation by the year 2030. References List Acton, A. (2011). Advances in Overnutrition Research and Treatment: 2011 Edition, ScholarlyBrief, Oxford, ScholarlyEditions. pp.5-10. Andersen, R. (2003). Obesity: Etiology, Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention, Champaign, Human Kinetics. pp.10-20. Donnelley, R. (2010). Preventing overweight and obesity in scotland. A route map towards healthy weight 4 (2). p. 50. Freemark, M. S. (2010). Pediatric Obesity: Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Treatment, New York, Springer. pp.100-105. Gard, M. (2010). The End of the Obesity Epidemic, New York, Taylor & Francis. pp. 37-47. Keating, M. (2010). The Government of Scotland: Public Policy Making After Devolution, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press. pp.78-90. Linsley, P. & Kane,R. (2011). Nursing for Public Health: Promotion, Principles, and Practice, Oxford, Oxford University Press. pp. 60-67. Noya, A. & Clarence, E. (2009). Community Capacity Building: Creating a Better Future Together, Gauteng, OECD Publishing. pp.46-53. Ostman,J. & Britton, M. (2008). Treating and Preventing Obesity: An Evidence Based Review, New York, John Wiley & Sons. pp.65-73. Waters, E. (2011). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Evidence Policy and Practice, New York, John Wiley & Sons. pp.30-35 Read More