A Comprehensive Health Promotion Plan and Implementation Strategy

HEALTH ISSUE - OBESITY

Chronic illnesses are the main cause of disease, disability, and death and have a big effect on the population of any country. In Australia, arthritic conditions, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, behavioural and mental illnesses, and kidney disease are among the most prevalent chronic conditions. These conditions impact a significant proportion of the population; data indicates that approximately 50% of Australians suffer from at least one chronic health issue, and almost 50% have at least one long-term medical condition (Powell-Wiley et al., 2021). The complicated public health problem of obesity has major effects on both the health of the individual and the community. Over the past few decades, Australia has seen a steady rise in the prevalence of obesity, which has now reached concerning levels. A majority (67%) of Australian adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18, up from 57% in 1995, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (Keramat et al., 2021). There have been calls for immediate measures to address this increasing health concern as a result of this alarming trend.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

There are several reasons for the increase in obesity, including:

• Increased intake of processed, high-energy foods
• Lower levels of physical activity
• A change in dietary habits
• Urbanization and a life of inactivity
• Inherited disposition

Several research works have indicated a robust relationship between obesity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Here are some instances:

• A 2016 study that was published in the scientific journal "Obesity" discovered that the risk of obesity was 70% higher for people who lived in low-income neighbourhoods than for those who did not (de Oliveira et al., 2016).
• The peer-reviewed journal "PLOS One" published a study in 2018 that indicated children who grew up in neighbourhoods with poor access to healthful food options had twice the likelihood of being obese compared to their counterparts who lived in neighbourhoods with better access (Webster et al., 2018).
• The medical journal "Preventive Medicine" published a study in 2020 that indicated adults who resided in neighbourhoods with high rates of crime and vandalism had a higher likelihood of obesity in comparison to those who lived in safer neighbourhoods (Velasquez et al., 2021).

PLAN

GOAL - In Australia, addressing the obesity epidemic requires a comprehensive plan for health promotion. The prevention and intervention methods that target people as well as communities and the larger environment should be the main focus of this plan (Ananthapavan et al., 2020).

OBJECTIVE 1. - Raising awareness of the risks that obesity poses to an individual's health

STRATEGY 1.1 – Make use of social media channels to spread messages about leading a healthy lifestyle and offer reliable data regarding the prevention of obesity.

STRATEGY 1.2 – Create and distribute educational resources and campaigns emphasizing the connection between obesity and chronic illnesses.

STRATEGY 1.3 - Put in place neighbourhood-based initiatives that offer assistance and direction to people trying to get in shape or make better lifestyle choices.

OBJECTIVE 2. - Encourage movement and reduce sedentary habits

STRATEGY 2.1 - Encourage modes of active transportation like bicycling, walking, and public transportation.

STRATEGY 2.2 - Put in place workplace wellness initiatives that promote exercise and a balanced diet.

STRATEGY 2.3 - Expand community spaces that encourage physical activity by adding more parks and leisure centres

OBJECTIVE 3.- Increase the availability and cost-effectiveness of healthy food options.

STRATEGY 3.1 - Encourage the purchase of healthful food options by offering tax breaks or subsidies.

STRATEGY 3.2 - Put laws into place to make more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains available in grocery stores, convenience stores, and places of employment.

STRATEGY 3.3 - To improve access to fresh, locally grown produce support farmers' markets and community gardens.

DISCUSSION (STUDENT NAME - )

Objective: Increase the availability and cost-effectiveness of healthy food options.

STRATEGY -To improve access to fresh, locally grown produce support farmers' markets and community gardens.

Implementation plan:

• Assess the needs of the community by gathering information on the availability of nutritious food choices, grocery store accessibility, and transportation options in the community (Bolton et al., 2017).
• Determine possible companions: To increase access to wholesome food, work with neighbourhood groups like farmers' markets, food banks, and community gardens.
• Adopt incentives and subsidies: Give retailers and distributors cash support to lower the price of nutritious food choicesin areas that are neglected.
• Increased availability of grocery stores: Promote the construction of supermarkets and grocery stores in impoverished areas, especially those with poor access to whole grains and fresh produce.
• Encourage markets for farmers and community gardens: In order to increase access to produce that is grown locally, support the founding and growth of the agricultural sector's markets and community gardens.
• Establish policies for the procurement of healthful food: Motivate organizations, such as businesses and schools, to give priority to acquiring healthful food options from nearby suppliers (Clarke et al., 2018).
• Inform customers about making healthy food choices: Offer seminars and programs on nutrition to enlighten people about good eating practices and how to choose foods wisely.
• Encourage classes on cooking healthful food: Encourage people to learn how to cook healthy food by providing demonstrations and classes that show people how to make wholesome, delectable meals with inexpensive ingredients.
• Promote legislation that promotes environments with wholesome food sources: Urge legislators to enact laws that facilitate the availability of healthy food, such as tax breaks for healthy food vendors and zoning laws that prioritize grocery stores in underprivileged neighbourhoods (Clarke et al., 2018).

EVALUATION

Various measures can be applied to assess the efficacy of interventions aimed at promoting health, such as:

• Monitor shifts in the community's access to and cost of wholesome food options: Keep an eye on the number of supermarkets, community gardens, farmers' markets, and grocery stores in the neighbourhood.
• Evaluate dietary changes and food insecurity: Surveys should be used to track changes in people's intake of nutritious foods and their encounters with food insecurity.
• Analyse the effects of educational initiatives on nutrition: Assess how participant understanding, beliefs, and actions regarding healthy eating have changed.
• Track changes in the prevalence of obesity among people of the community of interest over time to keep an eye on the community's obesity rates.

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