Obesity Problem: Specialist Community Public Health Nursing - Essay Example

Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Table of Contents Introduction 3 A Brief Overview of Obesity: A Global Health Challenge 4 Causes of Obesity 5 Obesity Scenario in the UK 6 Preventive Measures or Interventions for Tackling Obesity in the UK 7 Role of Health Visitors to Prevent Obesity in the UK 8 Conclusion 9 References 10 Introduction Obesity may be termed as excess accumulation of fat within a human body, which raises complexities in the health conditions. The symptoms of obesity may differ between varied groups of people, ranging from the children to the adults (Bupa, 2014). There exist certain reasons for which obesity has become a prime health challenge worldwide. These reasons include overeating, shortage in conducting physical activities and adverse hormones as well as environmental impacts. However, the people who are affected with this particular health disorder generally experience depression and other health related issues that even cause death in later stage (Egton Medical Information Systems Limited, 2015; Musingarimi, 2008). Over the previous twenty years, the rate of obesity throughout the globe has increased by a considerable extent. Based on various researches, it can be ascertained that the rate of obesity among the adults has increased by three to four times since the year 1980. However, it has become a worldwide challenge for the government to combat the disease because of the complexities associated with the treatment procedures of the same (Guardian News and Media Limited, 2015). Notably, there are certain public health policies that have been formulated by the UK government in order to tackle with the disease. Apart from this, the health visitors of the UK are also playing a major role in preventing obesity by creating greater awareness about the implications of this health disorder amid the people (Waumsley, 2011). Thus, urgent global action and conduct of effective leadership practices are required to support the respective nations in coping up with such a life threatening health disorder (1BBC, 2015). A Brief Overview of Obesity: A Global Health Challenge Obesity has become a major global health challenge, as it is growing at an increasing rate throughout the globe. Based on a survey conducted, it is estimated that in excess of three million people of the world are suffering from this health disorder. The condition of obesity in a person is measured with the help of Body Mass Index (BMI) approach, which measures the proximity of this disorder within the individuals by measuring their height and weight. Specially mentioning, the people of the developed countries are mainly affected with this adverse health condition, but in recent times, the issue has become an increasing problem even for the developing countries. In the year 2010, about 3.4 million deaths were reported worldwide that caused due to obesity. Certainly, the rise in the rate of obesity has led the respective governments of the nations to create awareness amongst every people towards coping up with the stated issue (Weight Management Centre, 2010). As a result of increased health risks, obesity has become one of the major global health challenges. It will be vital to mention that not only obesity is increasing extensively in this modern world, no national success stories have been reported relating to the mitigation of the health disorder between 1980 and 2013. However, in these 33 years, the BMI of the adult men increased from 28.8 percent in 1980 to 36.9 percent in 2013. Similarly, the BMI of women also amplified from 29.8 percent in 1980 to 38 percent in 2013. Obesity among the infants and children has also become a major concern for the countries. As per the World Health Report 2013, the rate of obesity in the developed countries amongst the boys increased by 23.8 percent and amongst the girls, the rate increased by 22.6 percent. Similarly, in the developing countries, the rate of obesity amid the boys increased from 8.1 percent in 1980 to 12.9 percent in 2013 and for the girls, the rate augmented from 8.4 percent to 13.4 percent in 2013 (2BBC, 2015). Notably, there lay certain countries including Tonga, Kuwait, Qatar, Samoa and Libya, wherein in excess of 50 percent of the adults are affected by obesity. Near about 30 percent of the overall population of the world are affected by obesity, as a result of which, the risk of occurring certain life threatening diseases like cancer, diabetes and cardiac disorders are increasing gradually. However, since the year 2006, the rate of obesity amid the people of developed countries gradually slowed down. Therefore, it is seen that until the year 2006, which is almost 26 years, no countries in the world have experienced decrease in the rate of obesity amongst the people. The above portrayed data thus eventually triggers the need for addressing and mitigating the major global health challenge of obesity by adopting quality interventions in the form of designing effective strategies (Elsevier Limited, 2014). Causes of Obesity There are several factors that may result in the generation of excess body fat and ultimately lead towards obesity. In this regard, a few of such factors include eating high calorie foods and performing less physical activities. It has been earlier mentioned that obesity may cause due to certain environmental along with hormonal issues and also from taking medicines. From a scientific perspective, excess accumulation of calorie within the human body leads to obesity. Justifiably, the average intake calorie of a man and woman is ascertained to be not more than 2500 and 2000 respectively. Thus, the intake of calorie above this limit certainly causes obesity (The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2015). Similarly, lack of conducting physical activities may also lead towards obesity. For instance, if an individual goes on consuming food and do not involve in any physical activity, this certainly results into storing excess fat in human body. Apart from this, excessive consumption of junk and unhealthy foods highly raises the symptoms of obesity amid the people. More importantly, heredity is identified to be one of the prime contributory factors in causing heredity (NHS, 2015). Generally, it is seen that the children of the obese parents are much prone towards obesity, which is a sign of heredity. However, the extensive consumption of contraceptive pills, diabetic drugs, steroids and other prescribed drugs may lead towards the increase in weight of the individuals and result in causing obesity (Public Health England, 2015). Obesity Scenario in the UK Obesity has become a growing concern in the UK, as evidences reveal the fact that a major proportion of the people belonging to the nation are obese or overweight (1Public Health England, 2015). In relation to this scenario, it has been predicted that by the year 2020, nearly one third of the populaces of the UK will be affected by obesity (National Obesity Forum, n.d.). Identifiably, the major causes of the growing rate of obesity in the UK are deemed to be increased level of Americanisation and the high rate of fast food centres being established in the nation. Apart from these, lack of proper physical exercise and consumption of unhealthy diets also frame the major reasons for causing obesity amid the people of the UK (University of Birmingham, 2015). Furthermore, there also exist certain other secondary reasons for causing obesity amid the people of the UK. In this context, one of such secondary reasons is identified to be wider prevalence of certain medical symptoms like diabetes and hypothyroidism that are predominant among the people of the nation. Therefore, with this concern, it certainly becomes a mandate to lay utmost focus on determining the appropriate diet patterns of the people and also creating awareness amid them about the adverse impacts impose by obesity in their health conditions(Guardian News and Media Limited, 2015;;). Preventive Measures or Interventions for Tackling Obesity in the UK In order to tackle obesity, the respective governments of the nations have adopted various measures over the previous few years. In this regard, the UK government, in particular, remained involved in arranging campaigns to prohibit the consumption of unhealthy foods in schools with the instructions provided to provide healthy and nutritional meals to the students. This change in the school meal system gradually replaced the junk food culture persistent within the healthy meals of the schools, which contributed in coping up with the increased level of obesity amid the populaces of the UK (Northern and Shell Media Publications, 2015). Further initiatives were also taken by the government in improvising the quality of dinner in schools and thus sufficient funding was raised in order to implement the change. Apart from the discussed intervention, various other measures in the form of urgent global actions have also been adopted by the government to diminish the health disorder of obesity. One of such actions in this regard can be apparently recognised as generating greater awareness amid the people about obesity by presenting television shows and also publishing the negative outcomes of the same in magazines. As a cause-and-effect relationship, a few of the popular fast food retail stores have closed down more than 25 counters in the UK (London Evening Standard, 2008). The medical professionals of the UK, with greater support of the government, created an action plan, stating certain recommendations for the healthcare centres in the context of tackling obesity. Likewise, suggestions including mandating food standardisation in all the hospitals and restricting the establishment of new fast food retail outlets nearby schools and educational institutions have been made. Moreover, it is also recommended to increase the price of soft drinks by 20 percent and bearing calorie indicators in every fast food counters for providing calorie information to the people. More importantly teaching the students regarding nutritional benefits and mandating the preparation of diet plans in every school of the UK also act as certain other measures towards tacking obesity issue. Grants are being provided by the government of the UK to build playgrounds, cycle racing tracks and organise free city running events in order to motivate the people to engage themselves in physical activity and likewise tackle obesity (Open Government Licence, 2013). Role of Health Visitors to Prevent Obesity in the UK The role of health visitors is duly considered to be quite important in preventing people from the increased level of obesity. It is worth mentioning in this similar context that the health visitors should advise especially the women not to gain too much weight and also provide them with necessary measures to reduce weight (IHV, 2015). Apart from this, the role of health visitors also lay in educating the women regarding proper breastfeeding techniques that may be helpful in preventing childhood obesity. In this regard, the parents should also assess the behaviours and the tendencies of child after birth in order to determine the tendency of overweight or obesity based on certain checklist indicators propounded by the health visitors (Graduate Prospects Ltd, 2014). Conclusion From the above analysis and discussion, it can be critically argued that obesity has become a global challenge for all the countries because of established health risks and substantial increase in the prevalence of the same. This can be justified with reference to the fact that nearly 30 percent of the people throughout the globe get affected with obesity due to the causes of intaking high calorie food, lack of physical exercise, consumption of medicines and persistent genetic problems. Since the year 1980, the rate of people affected through obesity has almost increased in manifold times. Justifiably, the obesity rate in the UK is deemed to be the highest amongst all other regions of Western Europe. Evidences also confirm that the prevalence of obesity amid the children is also increasing day by day, which is a growing concern for the countries. In order to tackle obesity, it is quite obvious that the formulation of urgent global actions and leadership is required to deal with obesity in an effective manner. With this concern, the government of the UK adopted certain preventive measures that include restrictions in supplying unhealthy foods in educational institutions and creating greater awareness amid the people concerning the nutritional benefits. However, the health visitors are deemed to play a major role to tackle obesity with proper and effective utilisation of the interventions like educating women about the concern of lessening weight. Thus, in conclusion, it can be affirmed that with the conduct of the above discussed actions and promoting leadership practices, the global health challenge of obesity can be addressed and mitigated by a considerable extent. References 1BBC, 2015. What Are The Health Risks Of Obesity? Article. [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/21702372 [Accessed January 05, 2014]. 2BBC, 2015. Obesity Quadruples To Nearly One Billion in Developing World. Article. [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-25576400 [Accessed January 05, 2014]. Bupa, 2014. Obesity in Adults. Health Information. [Online] Available at: http://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/directory/o/obesity-in-adults [Accessed January 05, 2014]. Elsevier Limited, 2014. Global, Regional, and National Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adults during 1980–2013: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Article. 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[Online] Available at: http://www.ihv.org.uk/uploads/Redsell%20SA%20et%20al%20Guideline%20for%20health%20visitors%20around%20obesity%20prevention%20during%20infancy.pdf [Accessed January 05, 2014]. London Evening Standard, 2008. Olympics at Centre of New Anti-Obesity Drive. Article. [Online] Available at: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/olympics-at-centre-of-new-antiobesity-drive-6663462.html [Accessed January 05, 2014]. Musingarimi, P., 2008. Obesity in the UK: A Review and Comparative Analysis of Policies within the Devolved Regions. International Longevity Centre, pp. 1-40. NHS, 2015. Causes of Obesity. Obesity – Causes. [Online] Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Obesity/Pages/Causes.aspx [Accessed January 05, 2014]. Northern and Shell Media Publications, 2015. War on Diabetes: Doctors Told To Snitch On Patients Piling On Pounds. Articles. 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