Obesity
Q1.) One of the most serious problems modern society face is obesity, especially childhood obesity. Within the past thirty years, childhood obesity has grown at a terrifying rate. Obesity is associated with high rates of chronic diseases, even much higher than drinking, smoking and living in poverty. Women endure a disproportional burden of diseases attributed to obesity and overweight, including ethnic inequality. In the year 2009, the economic expense of obesity and overweight in Canada and the United States caused by medical expenses, disability and excess mortality was almost $300 billion. ("KCMO Community Health Assessment 2011 | Open Data | data.kcmo.org", 2016)
Obesity or overweight leads to reduced brain functioning in children who are school-aged as well as a great number of safety and health issues, for example, heightened chances of breast cancer, shortened life expectancy, complications linked to pregnancies, motor vehicle crash injury and death, impotence in males, and increased chances of birth defects-which is the second leading cause of child mortality in Kansas City. A substantial number of chronic illnesses related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes and orthopedic problems are nowadays show up in childhood instead of adulthood. Obesity can also have terrific effects on activities such as eating, bathing, getting out of or in a bed, dressing, and walking across a room. Therefore, it is very important for Kansas City Health Department to address this issue.
Q2.) A number of initiative programs have been put on to address this issue of obesity. For instance, the Building a Healthier Heartland initiative exists to act upon the environment in Kansas City to metropolitan to encourage healthy life choices and lifestyles. Moreover, the Department of Health is working together with the Departments of City Planning and Development, Public Works, and several community organizations on the Active Living Kansas City initiative to encourage biking, good nutrition and walking among pupils in the Hickman Mills School District. The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City offers significant support to Active Living KC. ("KCMO Community Health Assessment 2011 | Open Data | data.kcmo.org", 2016)
Obesity is a complex disease with metabolic, behavioral and genetic determinants. Majority of the behavioral determinants are promoted by the obesogenic surroundings in which people live. Some of the obesity-impacting environmental factors are the physical and natural environment such as recreational opportunities; food marketing and advertising; and public policy, for instance, contents of school vending machines. The chances of a child’s being overweight or obese are higher by 20-60% in environments with social conditions that are most unfavorable, for example, poor housing, unsafe surroundings, lack of access to recreational facilities.
Q3.) A number of significant outcomes are associated with these programs and initiatives. First, it is clear that the there is a large economic burden connected to obesity, which is at the moment estimated to be over $215 billion per annum. ("KCMO Community Health Assessment 2011 | Open Data | data.kcmo.org", 2016) Hence, the initiative and programs will see this burden reduced as most people will be focused on keeping themselves physically fit and thus a reduction of the health problems linked to obesity. There will also be minimization of spending by private insurances. Minimizing cases of obesity on Kansas City will have an impact on the premiums of private health care insurance as well as health care costs that are publicly financed, such as Medicaid, Medicare and the Health Levy. National projections are that if nothing is done, the total health care expenses associated with overweight and obesity might double every ten years. By the year 2030, this will have accounted for 16-18% of the sum total of United States health care.
References
Community Health Needs Assessment - North Kansas City Hospital, Kansas City, MO. (2016). Nkch.org. Retrieved 1 May 2016, from http://www.nkch.org/community/community-health-needs-assessment/
KCMO Community Health Assessment 2011 | Open Data | data.kcmo.org. (2016). City of Kansas City, Mo.. Retrieved 1 May 2016, from https://data.kcmo.org/Health/KCMO-Community-Health-Assessment-2011/fxwd-wuq7
