It would be expected that increased consumption of healthier foods would have a positive overall impact.
Anti-obesity drugs have been considered for some time, with some negative issues in the past. For example, the pill rimonabant introduced in 2006 increased already high levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts with the obese population. Recently, according to an article in Popular Science (Hagerman, 2009) the hormone option instead seems more "palatable and plausible." However, it is pointed out that no one bodily mechanism is responsible for obesity, and it is a very challenging problem. Healthcare professionals also do not have positive thoughts on such approaches. They report that treating obesity with drugs transforms it into a disease rather than something caused by lifestyle choices. Believing that being overweight is due to faulty genes or illness removes a person's responsibility for remaining healthy. People become obese for diverse and complex reasons, and thus a wide range of interventions are required. Medication may be part of the solution for some individuals, but patients should not simply rely on drugs to do the work. If medicinal are utilized as part of a holistic program of lifestyle and behavior change, some people will be empowered to tackle their obesity. (Nursing Standard, 2008).
Since obesity is a major risk for chronic disease and can lead to a shorter and less quality life, the problem should be looked at from a health disparities perspective that examines how health is distributed across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups, reports Braveman (2009). Margaret Whitehead gave the most meaningful definition: "Differences which are unnecessary and avoidable but, in addition, are also considered unfair and unjust." Health disparities place socially disadvantaged groups at further disadvantage...
To use a disparities approach to health research, identifies and better understands these differences among more and less advantaged social groups. This methods contrasts with present ones in the U.S. frequently examine racial or ethnic groups without 1) explaining the reason for their examination, 2) considering social class, or 3) analyzing race-related social factors that can strongly impact an individual's health, such as racial segregation. A disparities lens has much to contribute to obesity research, Braveman argues. This places the emphasis on multiple dimensions as well as levels of advantage or disadvantage, relative and absolute deprivation, discrimination, and social exclusion, and leads to responses in social and physical environments and at the individual/household/family and the community levels. Regardless of what approaches taken in the future, they need to include education, especially of the low-health-literate user. Such methods will reach the individuals who are at greatest risk.
References
Braveman, P. (2009) Health Disparities Perspective on Obesity Research Prev Chronic Dis 6(3). Retrieved October 16, 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2009 / jul/09_0012.htm.
NHANES data on the Prevalence of Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2003 -- 2006. CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Health E-Stat. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/overweight / overwght_child_03.htm
Nursing Standard (2008) Tackling obesity with pills. 22(30), 26-28.
Winstanley, C.L. (2007) a Healthy Food Tax Credit: Moving Away from the Fat Tax and Its Fault-Based Paradigm. Oregon Law Review. 86 or. L. Rev. 1151
Zhang, Q…
