Social Ecological Model (SEM) can best explain the occurrence of chronic diseases more than the chain of infection. Social ecological model explores a wide range of chances of obesity as a chronic disorder. The model examines how the disease affects the community in broad dimension. The chain of infection only focuses on those affected and how they came to be infected with such illnesses. The social ecological model explores and explains more than just the causes of the infection. It even shows how the disease affects the community as a whole.
The level of influence in social-ecological model includes intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community and public policy. Intrapersonal level involves the individual that is affected by the disease. The individuals are supposed to be aware of the effect of their eating habits. Unhealthy eating habit is likely to cause obesity (Preedy et al, 2013). Interpersonal involves the person and the people closest to them. The family members and friends make part of this. Peers also form the part of this. The pattern of food being prepared and the nature of preparation should not be affecting the individuals negatively. They are all supposing to healthy eating habit. The individuals should be aware of how their habits affect them and others. Organizational level includes churches, stores, community organization and food manufacturers. These organizations should enhance the availability of healthy food and at affordable prices to the local people. The food should be healthy and made available to the people. Community, this is the society that the individual is staying. The community norm towards food is the primary subject at this level. The community rejects and promotes some habits. The habits can be of benefit or harmful to the certain individuals. The individuals should be aware of the how the norms affect them either positively or negatively. The last level is the public policy; it involves the local state and federal policies. The systems tend to regulate the amount of fat and sodium content in food products. They monitor the level of hygiene in different restaurants and hotel. They form a body that approves the quality of foodstuffs before they are provided to the local community.
Obesity is a chronic disease. Obesity is an accumulation of body fat; it is mostly twenty percent or more of a person’s ideal body weight (Longe, 2005). In simple time obesity is known as being grossly fat or overweight. Obesity was declared a chronic disease in 2008. It is considered a chronic illness because it develops over time and there are no measures put in place to combat it. At the intrapersonal level the individual can prevent obesity by doing the following; follow healthy eating pattern, be active, reduce screen time. Obesity is can also be promoted by the following factor at intrapersonal levels, the genetic background of individuals, the kind of foods that they take and the time they spend doing nothing constructive (WHO 2015). At intrapersonal level, chances of obesity are high if both the parents have a past occurrence of obesity. If the parties involved do not offer good eating habits, the individuals are likely to be obese. At the organizational level, they contribute to preventing obesity by creating public awareness (Kumanyika, Brownson, 2007). The food offered at the organizational level can also promote chances of being obese. The community norms on foods that affect that prevent people from eating foods that are rich in fats usually help in preventing chances of obesity. When one moves from one community to another may enhance the likelihood of being obese. An adverse environment in the postnatal stage has been associated with the cause of obesity (Chan, Woo, 2010) . At the public policy level, policies that are supposed to be effective should have a direct effect on the settings in the community (Sack et al 2009). School-based policy for prevention has proven to be very effective.
Obesity is of concern because of the health risk that it is related to. Obesity in adults increases ones chance to diseases like coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, abnormal blood fats, metabolic syndrome, cancer, sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, reproductive problems and gallstones. In children there is increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Since the children are likely to carry obesity to adulthood then they can be affected by the same problems.
References
Longe, J. L. (2005). The Gale encyclopedia of alternative medicine. Detroit: Thomson/Gale.
Sacks G, Swinburn B, Lawrence M.(2009) Obesity Policy Action framework and analysis grids for a comprehensive policy approach to reducing obesity. Obes.;10:76–86. [PubMed]
Preedy, V. R., Hunter, L.-A., & Patel, V. B. (2013). Diet quality: An evidence-based approach. New York, NY: Humana Press.
World Health Organization Fact sheet: (2015). obesity and overweight. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/ as of 4th March. 2015.
Kumanyika, S. K., & Brownson, R. C. (2007). Handbook of obesity prevention: A resource for health professionals. New York: Springer.
Chan S. M. R and Woo J. (2010). Prevention of Overweight and Obesity: How Effective is the Current Public Health Approach. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Retrieved from www.worldcat.org/title/diet-quality-an-evidence-based-approach-volume-1/oclc/852969782 as of 4th March 2016.
