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Few other public health issues have drawn as much attention, and garnered as much support for policy and programming as obesity. Obesity programs have been initiated and implemented at the federal and state levels, and all fifty states currently have early childhood education physical activity and healthy eating regulations and policies (The State of Obesity, 2018). All the major national public health research organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health likewise inform and promote obesity-related policies and programs. Government agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the USDA also have distinct policies and programs. In spite of the abundance of both private and public funding for anti-obesity research, policy development, and programming, the majority—two-thirds—of American adults are overweight or obese, and more than a fourth of all healthcare costs in the nation are consumed by obesity-related issues (Levi, Vinter, Richardson, et al. (2009). With a few exceptions, obesity policies in general have been relatively ineffective at reducing overall rates of obesity or changing public health trends.The most effective anti-obesity programs implemented in the United States have been the school-implemented ones, particularly those that combined in-school programming when they are combined with home and community involvement (Wang, Cai, Wu, et al., 2015). School-based physical activity programs have been evaluated for their effectiveness at increasing fitness levels, reducing sedentary...
Even when they are effective, program evaluation results have been “moderate” at best, and the majority of interventions have yielded few promising results (Wang, Cai, Wu, et al., 2015). The CDC has likewise proclaimed inconclusive evidence supporting its own school-based initiatives (Levi, Vinter, Richardson, et al., 2009). Similarly disappointing results have been found when measuring the effectiveness of obesity prevention programs administered through early childhood education in other countries. For example, one UK study showed that school-based programs led to no statistically significant reduction in overall BMI scores; the results show that “schools are unlikely to impact on the childhood obesity epidemic by incorporating such interventions without wider support across multiple sectors and environments,” (Adab, Lancashire, Hemming, et al. (2018, p. 1).
Among all populations, the most important reason why anti-obesity policies and programs have been ineffective is that they have failed to address some of the systemic issues at stake. Some of the overarching, systemic concerns include socioeconomic class, disenfranchisement, and persistent disadvantage: social factors that are linked with higher prevalence of the disease. In almost all countries, obesity rates are higher among lower socioeconomic groups (Kornet-van der Aa, Altenburg, van Randeraad-van der zee, et al., 2017). The connection is due to…
Obesity The Introduction and Topic Area Called "the biggest threat to the health of Americans today," obesity affects two-thirds of American adults and about a fifth of American children (California School Health Care Centers Association, 2009; Kalakanis & Moulton, 2006). Children spend between six to eight hours per day at school, more if they are involved in extra-curricular activities. Schools have "established infrastructure" offering an ample opportunity to provide effective and accessible
Again, like with all other programs, there is no effective strategy for addressing the root causes of the problem with the individual. This makes any kind of initiatives much less effective over the long-term. The Impact of the Programs The impact of anti-obesity programs is that they are doing little to address the problem. The biggest reason why these programs are not working is because of a one size fits all
Obesity in the United States The extent of the Problem Obesity as one commentator says, is not just a "matter of aesthetics" but has become a major public health problem in the United States. Similarly, Federal health officials have categorically stated that "the growing prevalence of obesity in the United States represents a significant health threat to millions of Americans." Obesity is seen by health officials in a serious light and is
197). Further, Robinson and Sirard posit that applying a "Litmus Test" helps to identify the specific research questions, study designs, and methods that will most likely contribute to improving individual and overall population health (198). The researchers suggest that a study should only be performed if the researcher(s) knows what the conclusion from each possible result (negative, null, positive) will be, and how the result will incline intervention to address
Introduction Obesity is a critical issue in the United States, and the problem seems to be getting worse in the country and across the planet. As per the latest estimates, about 34 percent of American adults and 15 to 20 percent of American adolescents and children suffer from obesity. Every demographic of the American population is affected by obesity, and the worst thing about the condition is that it enhances the
Government Health Initiatives: Obesity and public health Given the rise in obesity rates in the United States, prioritizing reducing the prevalence of this illness has become a critical cornerstone of many federal, state, and local health agencies. Because the federal government encompasses the USDA and the FDA which set health and safety standards for the foods consumed in the U.S. As well as offer nutritional guidelines, the federal government can exert a