Final Examination: Global Health Issues
Question
Instructions
Research has shown that there is an increased prevalence of adult and childhood obesity in Black and Latino populations in this country. What factors are contributing to this disparity?
http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/childhood-obesity-legislation-2013.aspx What are some of the public health laws that have been enacted to address obesity in this country? What about in our home state of California?


Solution
Global Health Issue
Obesity rates in children and adolescents aged 2-19 and
adults have been stable in the United States since 2003-2004, according to
statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According
to current prevalence estimates, overweight or obesity among children and adolescents
in the United States has increased around thrice during the previous 30 years (Barner et al., 2019). According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when both types of weight
gain are considered, a disturbing 31.7 percent of children and adolescents in
the United States are either obese or overweight. Therefore, this paper will discuss
on what causes obesity and some set legislations to fight it in the US.
Obesity has a more significant impact on minority children
than on white youngsters. Disparities in adolescent obesity by race/ethnicity
are now widely acknowledged to be a result of socioeconomic inequality (SES) (“Global
Childhood Obesity Update,” 2014). Children from low-income families are more
likely to be overweight than children from higher-income families. Ethnically
and culturally diverse communities can also be found in the lower tiers of
American society (Barner et al.,
2019). According to studies, racial and ethnic disparities in childhood
obesity can be attributed to various factors. While the socioeconomic position
is a significant factor in a person's well-being, it is not the only one.
Anxiety and melancholy may be contributing factors to the differences in
childhood obesity rates.
Obesity disparities have been related to
cultures that encourage the use of obesity-causing foods. Minority children
have cited fast food businesses and cultural preferences for unhealthy meals as
barriers to healthy eating. Obesity in youngsters may also be influenced by
cultural norms regarding what constitutes a fit body size. According to a poll,
many Latina mothers believe that having a slim child is a sign of bad
parenting.
Since the issue of obesity is becoming a public concern, the
government has put some of the legislation to help fight this pandemic from
schools and in society (Barner et
al., 2019). State legislation and resolutions that complement and
supplement federal programs have supported the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of
2010 (P.L. 111-296) and other measures that make nutritional foods available to
pupils throughout the school day. In 2014, 22 states in the United States,
including California, passed school nutrition legislation or issued resolutions
(“Global Childhood Obesity Update,” 2014). Enacting these rules will make
school lunches and other school-sponsored nutrition initiatives healthier. In
2014, legislators in several states emphasized the need to provide students
with a nutritious school breakfast to guarantee they were ready to study when
they got up in the morning.
In California, after-school programs must provide nutritional
snacks, meals, or both and a physical exercise component for high school
students (Barner et al., 2019).
It allows schools to use cafeteria funds for central food processing, housing
and equipping cafeterias, and providing drinking water in restaurants,
including cafeteria building and equipment costs. Extends by half an hour the
existing school nutrition law forbidding the sale of less nutritious foods and
beverages, as well as items containing trans fats, at school (“Global Childhood
Obesity Update,” 2014); compliance must be tracked. This initiative makes
nutrition pilot participation possible.
On or after January 1, 2015, the California Child Day Care
Act requires at least one instructor or an educator at each daycare center and
each family day care home licensee who provides care to complete at least one
hour of childhood nutrition training as part of the preventive health practices
course, in adding to any other essential training.
Obesity and
excessive weight, on the other hand, are considered a global pandemic, with
children and adolescents bearing the lion's share of the burden. As a result,
to help fight against this disease, the government's laws and regulations must
be followed appropriately.
References
Barner, Y., Sung, J. H., Akil, L., &
Leggett, S. S. (2019). Association between Health Insurance and Obesity among
Adolescents. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 3(2),
em0031. https://www.ejeph.com/article/association-between-health-insurance-and-obesity-among-adolescents-5929
Global
Childhood Obesity Update. (2014). Childhood Obesity, 10(1),
85–88. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2014.1015




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