Obesity The Center Of Health Policy - 897 Words

Conflict between an individual’s freedom to choose, and a governments obligation to protect its citizens has long been a source of contention and is often at the center of health policy debates. We have seen this very thing happen many times regarding obesity. Overweight and obesity result from daily lifestyle choices, the consequences of which gradually accumulate. Poor diets and inadequate physical activity are widely acknowledged as the main drivers of the obesity epidemic (Fung, Kuhle, Lu, Purcell, Schwartz, Storey, Veugelers, 2012). Rates of obesity have skyrocketed in the past couple decades for adults, adolescents and children. Two out of every three adults in America are either overweight or obese and nearly 9 million children and adolescents are considered overweight (Tao Glazer, 2005). The effects of obesity are wide spread. Obesity is directly tied to increased risks for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and psychological morbidity (Library of Cong ress, 2004). Obesity costs billions of dollars annually in terms of health care and lost productivity and increases the cost of health insurance, particularly Medicaid and Medicare, significantly. For those of us who pay for our insurance, both employers and employees, we have experienced this rise in costs. This has caused society to suffer a substantial health burden. The emergence of obesity is attributed to sociological, genetic, economic and political causes. Obesity has made its way intoShow MoreRelatedPolicy Priority Issue : The Childhood Obesity Essay1614 Words   |  7 PagesPolicy priority issue: The childhood obesity Childhood obesity is one of the major public health challenges of the 21st century. The prevalence of obesity is increasing globally. In 2013, the number of overweight children under the age of five was estimated over 42 million. Childhood obesity can cause premature death and disability in adulthood. Overweight and obese children will grow up to become obese adults and are more likely to develop diseases like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes at aRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Ecological Approach Targeting Child Care Centers1612 Words   |  7 PagesRunning head: PREVENTING CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Preventing Childhood Obesity in Contra Costa County MPH 622: An ecological approach targeting child care centers Arlette Hernandez University of San Francisco The aim of this policy proposal is to address the importance of creating an early intervention program to reduce childhood obesity. This prevention plan will be conducted within the cities of San Pablo and Richmond in Contra Costa County. 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Khalikov Chamberlain College of Nursing NR506 – 10999: Health Care Policy Winter 2014 Policy Priority Issue: The Childhood Obesity Pandemic Childhood obesity is a global pandemic requiring prioritization in policy and health care reform. It has many effects on acute and long term health, including increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and certain types of cancer. This paper addressesRead MoreAn Early Prevention Of Healthy Diet And Physical Activities1190 Words   |  5 Pages Policy Overview An early prevention of healthy diet and physical activities can prevent obesity. U.S. Department of Health Human Services (n.d) concluded that about 80.3 million Americans are physically inactive and about 78 million Americans are obese. By the year 2018, healthcare cost is projected to be US $344 billion (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Kim Basu (2016) studied 12 different articles that indicated that since 1990s, the rate of obesity has increased by 30Read MoreObesity Is The Reason Our Youth972 Words   |  4 Pages Introduction Childhood obesity has been on a steady incline over the past 30 years and is considered a serious public health concern, especially in elementary school aged children. According to the US Surgeon General, nearly one in three children are overweight or obese (US Department of Human Health Services, 2014). The American Heart Association (2010) has age and sex specific growth charts that show the calculation of children’s BMI using their height and weight. When children’s weight isRead MoreThe Habit Of Eating Unhealthy Foods1606 Words   |  7 Pagesgenerally observed which lead to obesity. Obesity is commonest among the adult in the past but now is rising among the children and teenagers in China. Coupled with this, however, is the physical inactivity such as watching television or playing computer games for long hours and using automobiles instead of trekking a walk able distances (Deneen, 2011). GEOGRAPHICAL AND GENDER DISTRIBUTION The 2006 Third National Childhood Obesity Survey showed that the rate of obesity among 0-6 year old children inRead MoreEffects Of Globalization On Obesity And Caloric Intake880 Words   |  4 PagesGlobesity ? The Effects of Globalization on Obesity and Caloric Intake (October 2016). CESifo Working Paper Series No. 4982; IESE Business School Working Paper No. WP 1103-E. London School of Economics and Political Science graduate Joan Font, offers the effects of globalization on obesity and caloric intake. Joan makes his case from an economical and social standpoint, this is backed up by his education specialization in Health Economics and Social Policy. Joan looks deep into the prevalence of obese