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Public Health: Overweight/Obesity
Struggling with weight is one of the most serious health problems faced by the American Public. According to the Guide to Community Preventive Services (2003), more than half of the adult American population is overweight or obese. Indeed, studies have shown that weight problems begin with habits formed during childhood and youth. These habits are cultivated both in the home, in the workplace and in the school community. Education is therefore of primary importance.
For this reason, several preventive measures have been implemented and studied for their effectiveness. In schools, several programs have for example been implemented to cultivate healthier eating and fitness habits in young children. The programs are managed by specially trained personnel, who promote healthy habits by means of "fun" activities both in the home and school.
In the workplace, programs have been incorporated in a multi-functional paradigm: combination of education, increased physical activity, and healthier nutritional habits has resulted in promising short-term results. The problem is however that results appear less promising in the long-term. The most effective period for weight loss occurs during the first six months, whereas weight gain once again appears after this time.
While it is a good idea to implement school and work-based programs, commercial giants such as KFC and Macdonald's make it very difficult to sustain healthy nutrition and weight loss. Advertising that tends to focus on the pleasure of eating unhealthy foods is one of the great culprits promoting obesity in the United States. Perhaps food addictions could be fought more effectively by similar means. The media could be used to promote healthy habits and curb unhealthy ones in terms of fast foods. This technique has shown promising results in smoking and could also prove useful in the food industry.
Source
Guide to Community Preventive Services (2003, January 3). Overweight/Obesity. www.thecommunityguide.org/obesity
Population Health: Childhood Obesity Of all of the current factors impacting population health, childhood obesity may be have the greatest threat for long-term damage, as well as being the one most highly linked to culture, socioeconomic status, and personal liberties. As a result, efforts to reduce childhood obesity have been met with ambivalence and, sometimes even hostility. Part of the reason for this hostility is that the two factors that
Christodolous et al. (2006) find that "children who reported less than 30 minutes of daily participation in physical activity demonstrated lower prevalence rates for overweight and obesity as well as superior fitness performance. The detrimental effect of the summer break on the progress of physical fitness was less in children who did participate in physical activity than in those who did not." (Christodolous et al., 199) This helps to
If children are eating for comfort or binge eating regularly, it would be beneficial to add counseling programs to the Activ8Kids! program. I think that a spokesperson who is a healthy role model for kids would be great for this program. America Ferrara, the star of Ugly Betty, might be a good spokesperson, as she is beautiful and curvy. She represents a healthy weight that is achievable for most people
Obesity and Disability Overweight and obesity are labels for a wide range of weight that is greater than what is considered healthy for a particular weight. This term also identifies a range of weight that are indicators of the likelihood of development of certain diseases and health problems. Obesity affects different people in different ways and therefore may increase risk of health conditions among people. Obesity is involved with metabolic syndrome
The quality of the food brought into the home can increase caloric intake. For example, calorie-dense foods such as regular milk, sugar sweetened beverages, high-fat foods, and fast foods are potential sources of excess caloric intake. Family food preparation practices such as the use of cream, butter, or high-fat cheeses in recipes can be another source of excess caloric intake. An individual's physical activity is also an important factor
It will not focus on achieving a certain standard of thinness, and will emphasize the importance of behavioral modification as an essential component of healthy living. A national and comprehensive obesity campaign can be effective, if implemented correctly and in a fashion that promotes overall wellness, not simply achievement of a standard of thinness. Obesity can be conquered if it is approached from the perspective that healthy and well people