Obesity is a Community Health Problem: Research Paper Example

Introduction

Obesity is an epidemic problem affecting affluent nations, with epidemiological evidence indicating that there is a rise in health problems associated with obesity. Obesity is not only a public health problem but also a cultural phenomenon. The goals of agencies tasked with ensuring a healthy environment should involve society ensuring that individuals maintain a healthy weight. The purpose of the research is to provide interventions aimed at achieving short and long-term goals for the prevention of obesity in our community.

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Diagnosis

Obesity is a problem in our community from observation. There are a few numbers of people engaging in physical activity. There is an increased number of fast foods, an indicator that eating habits favor junk food over hot meals. A body mass index check showed that there are quite several persons with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. Evaluation of students who reported health problems such as chest pains, blood pressure, and diabetes were because of obesity.

Milio's Framework of Prevention

Propositions provided by Milio's framework provide an outline on including community and not just the individual level in preventing community health problems. While finding out the reason why obesity is prevalent in our community and analysis is made to find out people reported to have health problems as a result of obesity (Chung, Palermo, Keating & Peeters, 2016). Individuals who have poor eating habits, and no physical exercise are likely to be obese compared with individuals who engage in work. Behaviors of people in our community is another reason that there are continued problems with obesity. Lifestyle choices on dieting are depended on culture. The culture in our community is that people rely on fast foods for most of their meals (Nies & McEwen, 2018). The socioeconomic status also is a factor resulting in obesity because most people in our community are well off, and most of them buy ready food rather than cook at their homes. There are no government decisions set up to dictate the lives of individuals. Obesity as a health problem is not listed under insurance covers. There is no funding to create awareness about the dangers of unhealthy living. There is a strong belief that the obesity problem is an individual choice. Most people in our community prefer to engage in unhealthy eating habits while ignoring to engage in exercise activities. According to Smith (2017), decisions to engage in unhealthy eating is as a result of a change in behavior patterns where those who eat in fast foods are viewed as affluent compared with those who cook their food. Finally, people can be aware of the disadvantages of obesity, but with a lack of alternative health promotions, there is not going to be a change in eating behavior patterns. Most people in our community are aware of what causes obesity, but they are reluctant to change their state of obesity.

Compare Problem/Diagnosis to Healthy People 2020 National Goals

The nursing diagnosis I identified was the increased risk of obesity among youngsters in our community. The healthy people 2020 national goal for the topic nutrition, physical activity, and obesity is to "meet guidelines for aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity" ("| Healthy People 2020", 2019). The goals recommend that adults should meet a weekly aerobic physical activity of 150 minutes of moderate activities. HP2020 baseline for individuals above 18years is to target at least 18.2% of the adult population (Healthy People 2020", 2019). HP2020 has worked to improve its national goals through the improvement of baseline, and recent data indicates that 24% of adults' population have met guidelines set up by the federal for physical activities. HP2020 data indicates how people ignore the idea of engaging in physical activities with 31.8% chances of women likely not to meet federal guidelines. Accessibility to health insurance is also a factor in HP2020 with data showing adults with health insurance having high chances of meeting physical activity guidelines (" Healthy People 2020", 2019). Self-regulation of behavioral change is in line with HP2020 goals and forms a basis for long-term achievement of healthy living. A comparison of HP2020 goals shows that the problem of obesity is eliminated if effective strategies are employed at the individual level. There is also a likelihood that at some point in life, obese individuals will seek medical help. Seeking for help is in line with public health relevance that helps in intervening for obesity problems as per HP2020.

Long term and Short-term Goals

The long-term goals of HP2020 are to increase the number of adults who engage and meet aerobic physical activity guidelines. The adjustment is to be met in a timeframe of 10 years between 2008 and 2018. The HP2020 is also targeting 1.16-cup equivalents for every 1000 calories ("| Healthy People 2020", 2019). The initial target is to use a reasonable timeframe to achieve loss therapy. Moderate loss of weight for those already obese is significant in setting for further weight loss. Long-term goals are realistic when accomplished over a reasonable timeline of ten years. The intervention for a reduction in calories of food intake is to change the diet to have daily vegetable intake. The adjustment should also ensure that people at least prepare hot foods instead of buying from fast foods.

The short-term goals are to increase healthy options, improve social and economic resources, and build community capacity. The interventions for increased health options is for the community to provide vegetables retailing in stores while building parks and recreation sites that can allow individuals to go on walks. Education and job training should be provided in institutions to intervene on shortages of resources promoting healthy living. Interventions that focus on individual behavior change should be a short-term goal since it offers a chance to solve the obesity problem on a small range before focusing on the broader community. The final interventions are to encourage entrepreneurs and community leaders to share the behavioral change that promotes healthy living. Public health stakeholders need to identify elements of behavioral changes that are likely to promote change in energy balance. Physical activity goals can be achieved through follow up of guidelines that decrease inactivity among children, adolescents, and adults. The target to increase physical activity is promoting children and adults to take part in daily physical activity for an average of 60 minutes.

Conclusion

Obesity prevalence remains a health problem among societies that requires prevention and awareness through the maintenance of HP2020 goals and guidelines. Obesity is a concern because it affects the physical and psychological development of both adults and children. Setting up goals ensures that our communities remain in line with HP2020 guidelines. It is true to say that currently, obesity prevention programs have not implemented complex thinking required in solving the obesity problem. Application of Milio's framework program is a revelation aimed at assisting society to understand social and behaviors encouraging unhealthy living practices.

References

Chung, A., Backholer, K., Wong, E., Palermo, C., Keating, C., & Peeters, A. (2016). Trends in child and adolescent obesity prevalence in economically advanced countries according to socioeconomic position: a systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 17(3), 276-295.

Healthy People 2020. (2019). Retrieved 7 October 2019, from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Nutrition-Physical-Activity-and-Obesity/data.

Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2018). Community/Public Health Nursing-E-Book: Promoting the Health of Populations. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Smith, L. (2017). Community and Population. Frameworks for Advanced Nursing Practice and Research: Philosophies, Theories, Models, and Taxonomies, 245.