Policies and Programs to Fight Obesity - Assignment Example

Healthcare policy making (child obesity) Introduction While working as a nurse in a local school clinic, I have witnessed first-hand effects of childhood obesity through my daily routine. As a nurse, I am expected to follow a childhood obesity education program (National Association of School Nurses, 2010) in order to be well equipped when curbing obesity, popular among the children and young adult population. In the past, the government has adopted numerous policies and programs to fight obesity. Most of the strategies have primarily focused on behavioural, clinical and educational issues with minimal focus on the environmental aspects (Voigt & Kristin, 2014). For instance, the “clinical guidelines on the identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity adults” was instituted in 1998. These guidelines were aimed to be employed by health practitioners dealing with obese and overweight individuals. The government has also instituted the weight-control information network to deal with obesity (Voigt & Kristin, 2014). The government has also instituted other policies and programs that seek to educate the people on their diets and the importance of exercising. Over the past few decades, the different presidents that have been in power have encouraged people to eat healthy and exercise. Prevention of child obesity is particularly significant in nursing practise as the primary goal is to prevent diseases and promote healthy lifestyles in the society (Institute of Medicine US, 2012). This goes a long way to imply that nurses must take a leadership role in responding to the epidemic of obesity. Voigt and Kristin (2014) argue that obesity can be caused by genetic, metabolic and environmental factors or a combination of the three. Nurses can promote healthy lifestyles patterns that minimizes the risk of overweight by emphasizing on the importance of breastfeeding, physical exercises, regular meals and nutritional weight counseling. Policy Maker Involved Obesity is an issue that requires the input of almost everyone including federal, state and local policy makers. The policy makers involved in childhood obesity include my congressperson, Carlos Curbelo and Commissioner Juan C Zapata. I will try to contact the policy makers through calling their offices to book appointments. Terry (2013) acknowledges that calling is an appropriate way of booking for appointments or contacting policymaker’s offices. Each of these policy makers’ offices have contact numbers that are available on their webpages. Additionally, their numbers are listed on the blue pages of my phone book. Since the official calling hours are between 8 am to 4.30 pm, I will call within this time. Milstead (2013) also acknowledges that the most appropriate time to contact a policymaker is working hours. Though I expect my call to be received by their personal assistants or secretaries, who may decline my request to talk to the policymakers, I will make my intentions and issues known to them to grant me an opportunity for a meeting. If I do not get them through the office lines, I will also contact the policy maker through their home phone lines, which they expect to receive calls from the public. Getting access to the congressperson may take longer since he has a busy schedule. This leaves me with a good shot at the commissioner, who has a less busy schedule. Key Strategies and Empirical Evidence I plan to visit the legislator a week after placing the call, which is on 10th April at 11 am. Terry (2013) notes that visiting a policymaker after booking an appointment allows an individual to make plans on how to conduct the meeting and where to hold the meeting. The period before appointment will give me the opportunity to arrange and look for the most suitable venue for the meeting (Milstead, 2013). I will have to look for a venue that will have little or no disruptions. This could either be their office, or within the school library. However, because of convenience, the most preferred venue will be the legislator’s office. This will allow him to be comfortable with my appointment. Judged from the Commissioner’s commitment towards childhood development, I expect him to be enthusiastic about my ideas on childhood obesity. The main purpose of the visit will be to propose legislative policies favouring nutritional and healthy eating both in schools and homes, which would work quite effectively. In my first argument, the requirements of federal nutritional standards on all foods served in schools should be given an upper hand. According to the US Institute of Medicine (2012), staff and students ought to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) developed by the US department of Agriculture (USDA). The most sure and promising way to do this is to encourage them to participate in federal school meals programs, which include the National School Breakfast Programs. Participants in these programs are expected to meet nutritious standards thus provision of nutritious meals to children in schools (Voigit & Kristin, 2014). Secondly, I will propose to the legislator that the legislative policies should include provision of comprehensive, standard-based nutritional education that is integrated in the school curriculum (Voigt & Kristin (2014). I will enlighten the commissioner that traditional, knowledge-based programs and curricula had proved to be less effective than behaviour-directed programs and curricula (Voigt & Kristin (2014). The latter include programs that provides practical health information and strategies and those that works on changing individual and family values towards healthy lifestyles, which are critical to the sustainability of obesity prevention efforts. Milstead (2013) proposes the use of real life references when talking about an issue with a policymaker. I will offer some evidence by referring to researches that have proved that most children from low income families are the most affected by the obesity calamity. This situation calls for making of policies that would look into creation of recreational facilities in these undeserved areas (Voigt & Kristin (2014). This would provide opportunities for physical activities for the children thus minimising the risk they face in developing obesity. I will also gear up for the implementation of local wellness policies would also gear our efforts to fight obesity towards the right direction. Failure by the federal government to fund the local wellness programs has resulted to the policies related to this program being ignored or only implemented to meet minimum standards as required under the policy. By articulating Terry (2013) arguments, I will show the legislator how 70% of the schools are not implementing the wellness policies adequately. I will also point out the role of nutritional education to parents in order to improve their dietary practices. If parental education would be successful together with the standard federal meals offered in schools and recreational activities, then children would take part in it while in school. It is thus worth noting that healthy nutritional practices, nutritional education and regular recreational activities and exercises with follow up can help manage obesity. Evidently, its very hard for an overweight individual to lose weight at any age thus the call for national intervention in implementing policies that will help control this global epidemic. Specific examples After a nursing visit, it is always anticipated that the policy maker will heed to the things told and implement them. In most cases, policy makers implement some of the disturbing issues. Policies that encourage healthy practices should be put in place if at all there is to be a promising and lasting solution to this menace in the society. Conclusion Prevention has been seen as the best option to curb childhood obesity. Ideally, there are numerous health risks associated with obesity including heart disorders, hypertension and all types of diabetes. In the past years, policies have been applied to control this "new tobacco", but the implementation has not been very successful as expected. Prevention of child obesity is particularly significant in nursing practise as the primary goal is to prevent diseases and promote healthy lifestyles in the society. It is for this reason that I planned a visit to a policy maker. My strategy entails contacting the policy maker through their office and home phone numbers. It is after this that I will make arrangements for the most appropriate venue, with his office being the most preferred. Through this visit, I will offer numerous arguments on childhood obesity that will revolve around the legislative policies favouring nutritional and healthy eating both in schools and homes. I will make my arguments based on the current status of the state and country and offer recommendations within each argument. References Institute of Medicine (U.S.), Institute of Medicine (U.S.), & Workshop on Measurement Strategies for Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention. (2012). Measuring progress in obesity prevention: Workshop report. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Milstead, J. A. (2013). Health policy and politics: A nurses guide. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. National Association of School of Nurses. (2010). Overweight and Obesity in Youth in Schools - The Role of the School Nurse. Retrieved March 30, 2015, from https://www.nasn.org/PolicyAdvocacy/PositionPapersandReports/NASNPositionStatementsFullView/tabid/462/ArticleId/39/Overweight-and-Obesity-in-Youth-in-Schools-The-Role-of-the-School-Nurse-Revised-June-2013 Terry, A. J. (2013). Politics and policy: A guide for nurses and other health professionals. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Voigt, & Kristin, N. (2014). Childhood obesity:ethical and policy issues. (Voigt, Kristin and Nicholls: ethical and policy issues. Oxford University Press, New York. ISBN 9780199964482.) Oxford University Press. Read More