Australia has been rated among the countries to have highest obesity rates by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfares [AIHW]. This has made it essential to develop a better understanding of the determinants of obesity in a society to address the issue in a much effective way.
1. Discuss why obesity is a National Health Priority in Australia.
After being rated among one of the highest obesity prevailing country in the world by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfares [AIHW] adopt preventive strategies. According to the reports of the study that was released in 2010, every one out of four Australians adults are obese.
Following the research finding many experts dealt with the issue of obesity and its effects in general and Australia in specific, which revealed the obesity as the root cause for many other physical ailments and heart disorders. This fast spreading epidemic, which is a result of changing lifestyles and increasing stress levels in people, has already created a remarkable impact on the nation’s population.
The constantly increasing number of people affected by obesity and its related disorders have led to the Australian government declaring Obesity as a National Health Priority.
Apart from the various health threats that obesity poses to the society, according to a study by the “Australia's health” magazine that was published in 2010, following the report of the AIHW. It has been found that the health costs incurred by the government annually for its citizens is significantly impacted with the considerable growth in the number of obese adult population in the country.
2. Explain how the “Determinants of Health” need to be considered in relation to childhood (children
The year 2007, in Australia marks an important phase in the obesity study as it was observed by the National Health Survey 2007-08 that majority of kids and adolescents were obese or over weigh. There are many factors that induce obesity in children and it becomes necessary to consider all the “Determinants of Health” when studying obesity in children.
These factors range from inherent causes that might range from Genetic, prenatal, and early-life factors like the feeding habits that were adopted during the child’s early days of life. Along with this it also becomes essential to consider factors like Family factors, Parent-child interaction, dietary habits of the kid and other physical activity.
It is essential to understand and treat obesity at an early age, as obesity in kids is a severe issue in comparison to adult obesity. According to researchers, obesity tends to effect the overall growth of the kids as it has many psychological, cardiovascular, and neurological implications on the child making it difficult for the child to develop and compete with his/her peers.
As every child is unique, it becomes essential to understand the basic factor that has induced obesity in the particular child by considering the various determinants of health in relation to obesity.
3. Discuss primary, secondary and tertiary health promotion in relation to childhood (children from 5 to 15 years) obesity as a health issue in Australia.
According to a definition provided by the WHO (World Health Organization), prevention is the process of trying to avoid the occurring of a particular ailment or the spread of it in an individual or society. The prevention campaign for obesity in Australians in general and the nation’s kids in particular involves three processes.
The primary health promotion process aims at spreading awareness and trying to stop the occurring of obesity and its related ailments in the kids of the country, like conducting campaigns to inform people about the increase in type two diabetes among kids as a result of obesity etc.
While the secondary health promotion process tries to bring in a control in the spread of diseases and control the occurring of other complications by helping people develop adaptive behaviour that might revert their health back to normal. Whereas the tertiary process is an attempt to reduce the impacts of the already existing problems and avoid further problems from occurring in the future by counselling the people to adapt healthy practices and take up weight loss measures to reduce the presence of excessive fat on their bodily tissues.
As these promotional strategies are mainly targeted at the high risk group i.e. kids it becomes necessary for the health communicators to design their communication plan to suit their target audience. As graphs and figures might not impress the kids, who might fall asleep during the health message promotion campaigns might be.
However, even when these health promotion campaigns are effectively designed keeping in mind the audience base there are possibilities of other interfering variables to affect the final outcome. Therefore it becomes necessary for the other social determinants like media, food joints and other sources that might influence unhealthy habits to contribute considerably to make the efforts by the government effective.
4. Discuss the involvement and roles of community nurse in health promotion that targets childhood
(children from 5 to 15 years) obesity within a community setting in Australia.
The role of nurses and midwives, like other health professionals, is very essential when it comes to the task of health promotion, prevention strategies, assessment, care, treatment and rehabilitation. While the promotion of health messages involves the active participation of people from across the society, it becomes essential for the medical professionals like the nurses to actively contribute in the welfare activities.
Obesity in children is a major issue of concern for every government as that might leave an impact on their future generation. This makes it essential for them to take over the message effectively to the concerned people in the society by the medical professionals. However, it is not possible for the doctors to be available to discuss all the issues with the patients all the time and cater to every individual’s needs. This makes it necessary for someone well trained and equipped to handle medical issues to take charge and this role is effectively suited to the nurses who can communicate to the society about obesity and the related medical disorders that might be triggered from obesity.
The role of nurses can also be important when considering communicating health messages by designing campaigns to carry on the messages by designing special campaigns centered for its selective audience. Active community involvement and development strategies based on these participatory form of communication it is possible to reach the children who might or are already victims of the fast spreading epidemic of obesity.
This apart there are many other innovative health communication models that the health communication experts are planning to experiment with in order to ensure prevalence of health across the society. This is necessary as obesity is found to be the root cause of many ailments including cardiovascular disorders and type two diabetes that has victims as young as 10-year-old kids in Australia that has been ranked highest in case of obesity.
1. Discuss why obesity is a National Health Priority in Australia.
After being rated among one of the highest obesity prevailing country in the world by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfares [AIHW] adopt preventive strategies. According to the reports of the study that was released in 2010, every one out of four Australians adults are obese.
Following the research finding many experts dealt with the issue of obesity and its effects in general and Australia in specific, which revealed the obesity as the root cause for many other physical ailments and heart disorders. This fast spreading epidemic, which is a result of changing lifestyles and increasing stress levels in people, has already created a remarkable impact on the nation’s population. (“AIHW”, 2012)
The constantly increasing number of people affected by obesity and its related disorders have led to the Australian government declaring Obesity as a National Health Priority.
Apart from the various health threats that obesity poses to the society, according to a study by the “Australia's health” magazine that was published in 2010, following the report of the AIHW. It has been found that the health costs incurred by the government annually for its citizens is significantly impacted with the considerable growth in the number of obese adult population in the country. (“Ebbeling C.”, 2012)
2. Explain how the “Determinants of Health” need to be considered in relation to childhood (children
The year 2007, in Australia marks an important phase in the obesity study as it was observed by the National Health Survey 2007-08 that majority of kids and adolescents were obese or over weigh. There are many factors that induce obesity in children and it becomes necessary to consider all the “Determinants of Health” when studying obesity in children. (“Obesity Prevention”, 2012)
These factors range from inherent causes that might range from Genetic, prenatal, and early-life factors like the feeding habits that were adopted during the child’s early days of life. Along with this it also becomes essential to consider factors like Family factors, Parent-child interaction, dietary habits of the kid and other physical activity.
It is essential to understand and treat obesity at an early age, as obesity in kids is a severe issue in comparison to adult obesity. According to researchers, obesity tends to effect the overall growth of the kids as it has many psychological, cardiovascular, and neurological implications on the child making it difficult for the child to develop and compete with his/her peers.
As every child is unique, it becomes essential to understand the basic factor that has induced obesity in the particular child by considering the various determinants of health in relation to obesity. (“Johnson S.”, 2012)
3. Discuss primary, secondary and tertiary health promotion in relation to childhood (children from 5 to 15 years) obesity as a health issue in Australia.
According to a definition provided by the WHO (World Health Organization), prevention is the process of trying to avoid the occurring of a particular ailment or the spread of it in an individual or society. The prevention campaign for obesity in Australians in general and the nation’s kids in particular involves three processes.
The primary health promotion process aims at spreading awareness and trying to stop the occurring of obesity and its related ailments in the kids of the country, like conducting campaigns to inform people about the increase in type two diabetes among kids as a result of obesity etc. (“A Healthy and active Australia”, 2012)
While the secondary health promotion process tries to bring in a control in the spread of diseases and control the occurring of other complications by helping people develop adaptive behaviour that might revert their health back to normal. Whereas the tertiary process is an attempt to reduce the impacts of the already existing problems and avoid further problems from occurring in the future by counselling the people to adapt healthy practices and take up weight loss measures to reduce the presence of excessive fat on their bodily tissues.
As these promotional strategies are mainly targeted at the high risk group i.e. kids it becomes necessary for the health communicators to design their communication plan to suit their target audience. As graphs and figures might not impress the kids, who might fall asleep during the health message promotion campaigns might be. (“Johnson S.”, 2012)
However, even when these health promotion campaigns are effectively designed keeping in mind the audience base there are possibilities of other interfering variables to affect the final outcome. Therefore it becomes necessary for the other social determinants like media, food joints and other sources that might influence unhealthy habits to contribute considerably to make the efforts by the government effective.
4. Discuss the involvement and roles of community nurse in health promotion that targets childhood
(children from 5 to 15 years) obesity within a community setting in Australia.
The role of nurses and midwives, like other health professionals, is very essential when it comes to the task of health promotion, prevention strategies, assessment, care, treatment and rehabilitation. While the promotion of health messages involves the active participation of people from across the society, it becomes essential for the medical professionals like the nurses to actively contribute in the welfare activities. (“Ebbeling C.”, 2012)
Obesity in children is a major issue of concern for every government as that might leave an impact on their future generation. This makes it essential for them to take over the message effectively to the concerned people in the society by the medical professionals. However, it is not possible for the doctors to be available to discuss all the issues with the patients all the time and cater to every individual’s needs. This makes it necessary for someone well trained and equipped to handle medical issues to take charge and this role is effectively suited to the nurses who can communicate to the society about obesity and the related medical disorders that might be triggered from obesity. (“A Healthy and active Australia”, 2012)
The role of nurses can also be important when considering communicating health messages by designing campaigns to carry on the messages by designing special campaigns centered for its selective audience. Active community involvement and development strategies based on these participatory form of communication it is possible to reach the children who might or are already victims of the fast spreading epidemic of obesity. (“Obesity Prevention”, 2012)
This apart there is many other innovative health communication models that the health communication experts are planning to experiment with in order to ensure prevalence of health across the society. This is necessary as obesity is found to be the root cause of many ailments including cardiovascular disorders and type two diabetes that has victims as young as 10-year-old kids in Australia that has been ranked highest in case of obesity.
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare AIHW (2012). Obesity. 21 August 2012. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/obesity-health-priority-area/#why_asthma
A Healthy and active Australia (2012). Overweight and Obesity in Australia. 21 August 2012. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.au/internet/healthyactive/publishing.nsf/Content/overweight-obesity
Johnson S. (2012). The centre for labour market research. 21 August 2012. Retrieved from http://www.business.curtin.edu.au/files/2012.02_NShours.pdf
Ebbeling C. (2012). Childhood obesity: Public health crisis, common sense cure. 21 August 2012. Retrieved from http://www.allhealth.org/briefingmaterials/lancetobesityrev-393.pdf
Obesity Prevention (2012), 21 August 2012. Retrieved from http://www.preventativehealth.org.au/internet/preventativehealth/publishing.nsf/Content/E233F8695823F16CCA2574DD00818E64/$File/obesity-3.pdf
WHO (2009). Primary health care. Health Topics. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/topics/primary_health_care/en/
UNICEF (1978). Declaration of Alma-Ata: report on the International Conference on Primary Health Care, 6-12September, Alma-Ata, USSR. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/declaration_almaata.pdf.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization (2009) towards a national primary health care strategy: fulfilling Aboriginal peoples aspirations to close the gap. Canberra: NACCHO.
Keleher, H. (2001). Why primary health care offers a more comprehensive approach to tackling health inequities than primary care. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 7 (2): 57-61.
Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (2008). Submission to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. Melbourne: AHCRA.
Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (2009). Submission to Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy. Bribie Island: CATSIN.
Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (2006) Transdisciplinary care. Retrieved from http://www.clinicians.org/healthprofessionals/transdisciplinary.html
