HSC 4631 Critical Issues in Public Health For American Obesity

Question 

You must complete a Policy Paper on two different topics. You are to pretend you are working for a legislative lobbying organization. In each Policy Paper you will attempt to persuade a Congress person to vote for your side or fund your assigned side of the topic. One goal of this assignment is to have you summarize information in a concise manner. you are sometimes assume that more information is better. Concise summary is an important skill, especially when attempting to convince someone of a particular point-of-view.

Answer  

American Obesity Association, United States, advocates for obesity prevention in the country and upholds the belief that obesity is a disease. The communities across the country must be knowledgeable about the disease being a serious one, and the epidemic portions witnessed. There has been a debate regarding whether obesity is a disease or not. Being a representative of the American Obesity Association, it is appropriate to forward this paper that highlights obesity as a disease and recommends policy change in relation to the school-based assessment of body composition of children. The standpoint taken in this regard is that since obesity has wide implications for being a disease, school-based assessment of body composition, primarily weight and height is an appropriate obesity prevention strategy.

The primary arguments against referring obesity as a disease include the fact that individuals would be needing treatment only because the body mass index (BMI) crosses the threshold even if the individual is healthy. Further, the BMI tool also has certain flaws in it and is ill-equiped (Goel et al., 2014). The main argument against body mass index (BMI) screening in schools as an obesity prevention strategy is that the perceived comfort of the students is not taken into consideration in this regard. Further, screening does not lead to sufficient obesity control since proper education was not present Madsen and Linchey (2011). Madsen (2012) point out that students restrict themselves from taking part in such screening processes due to body shaming and low self-confidence.

Khan and Sievenpiper (2016) on the contrary pointed out that obesity is a diseae since it requires a wide range of interventions that include medical management. Obesity is associated with dysfunctioning of body and bodily abnormalities are also faced. Further, obesity has been pointed out as a geneticay programmed, chronic disease. Though control and management of obesity can eb possible, it cannot be cured (Haslam et al., 2014).

The range of literature pointing out the benefits of school-based assessment of body composition, however, is noteworthy and proves the worthiness of the approach. As opined by Bailey-Davis et al., (2017) behaviour change theory acts in support of the mentioned approach since awareness can be created among the school children in relation to making lifestyle changes for preventing obesity (Ruggieri & Bass, 2015). Gee (2015) highlighted that if school-based weight and height assessment is carried out, it is easier for the school authority to plan and implement nutritional programs that assist increasing nutritional intake of the students. Since management counselling sessions are needed for lifestyle changes, these can be implemented along with the Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment processes. Lastly, schools can always provide the students with a supportive and comfortable environment that augment the interest of the children to take part in such programs (Lee & Kubik, 2015).

Based on the above analysis it is recommended that policy reforms are to be brought about in the country that acknowledges that obesity is a disease. As the heath complications faced by people suffering from obesity are adverse in nature, school-based assessment of body composition as a suitable and promising obesity prevention strategy among the young population. Screening for BMI in schools is to be undertaken by nurses who have sufficient skills and knowledge in this regard. Further, reliability and validity of the measurement process are to be adjudged before application of the process.

References

Bailey-Davis, L., Peyer, K. L., Fang, Y., Kim, J. K., & Welk, G. J. (2017). Effects of Enhancing School-Based Body Mass Index Screening Reports with Parent Education on Report Utility and Parental Intent To Modify Obesity Risk Factors. Childhood Obesity, 13(2), 164-171.

Gee, K. A. (2015). School-based body mass index screening and parental notification in late adolescence: evidence from Arkansas's act 1220. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(3), 270-276.

Goel, K., Lopez-Jimenez, F., De Schutter, A., Coutinho, T., & Lavie, C. J. (2014). Obesity paradox in different populations: evidence and controversies. Future cardiology, 10(1), 81-91.

Haslam, D. W., Sharma, A. M., & Le Roux, C. W. (Eds.). (2014). Controversies in obesity. Springer London.

Khan, T. A., & Sievenpiper, J. L. (2016). Controversies about sugars: results from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on obesity, cardiometabolic disease and diabetes. European journal of nutrition, 1-19.

Lee, J., & Kubik, M. Y. (2015). Child’s weight status and parent’s response to a school-based body mass index screening and parent notification program. The Journal of School Nursing, 31(4), 300-305.

Madsen, K. A. (2011). School-based body mass index screening and parent notification: a statewide natural experiment. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 165(11), 987-992.

Madsen, K. A., & Linchey, J. (2012). School?Based BMI and Body Composition Screening and Parent Notification in California: Methods and Messages. Journal of School Health, 82(6), 294-300.

Ruggieri, D. G., & Bass, S. B. (2015). A comprehensive review of school-based body mass index screening programs and their implications for school health: do the controversies accurately reflect the research?(vol 85, pg 61, 2015). Journal of school health, 85(6), 411-411.