Verified Document

Obesity Epidemic Essay

Related Topics:

Identification of Key Results Results of this research highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the public health concern of obesity. Although obesity and its defining features like BMI are causally related to lifestyle factors like diet and activity levels, the research shows that the situation is more complex than that. There is a range of socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural, and political variables that also affect the prevalence of the disease. Identifying these outlying variables may be the key to resolving the obesity epidemic.

The obesity ecological model (OEM) has proven to be one of the most effective strategies for epidemiological analysis because it takes into account environmental and personal factors (Egger, Swinburn & Rossner, 2003). Using a multifactorial model like the OEM allows epidemiologists to take into account factors like age, race, socioeconomic class status, and compounding medical conditions. Key results of the study are as follows.

First, although the obesity epidemic has affected diverse communities around the world, it can be traced to a number of shared variables including dietary and other lifestyle choices. These are variables that are preventable and controllable, meaning that the obesity epidemic itself is preventable and controllable. The research also shows that while numbers and trends have shifted, the overall trend has been towards...

Parts of this document are hidden

View Full Document
svg-one

These variables include socioeconomic class status, the political culture and climate, religion, the economy, and worldview (Hu, 2008; Mela, 2005).
Third, developmental psychology and life course theory has been shown to be relevant to the etiology of obesity in some populations (Hu, 2008). Specifically, the results of the longitudinal ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents And Children) study shows that fetal exposure, breastfeeding, parental impacts, school atmosphere and transition into adulthood are all critical nodes or junctures in childhood development (Reilly, Armstrong, Dorosty, et al, 2005).

Fourth, in addition to applying developmental psychology theories to the epidemiology of obesity, it is effective to apply systems theory. Systems theory takes into account family and other mezzo level variables impacting population health. The Sobko, Svensson, Ek, et al (2011) research using the Early STOPP (STockholm Obesity Prevention Program) program is illustrative and provides insight into how a similar pilot study could be applied elsewhere.

Implications

The implications of this research on the obesity epidemic are global, including potential changes to public policy. To meet HealthyPeople 2020 objectives, epidemiologists are challenged…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now