Question

How is obesity being addressed for African Americans population. How effective is the intervention?

Answer 1

Consuming more calories than the burning rate of calories in people lead to obesity. Poor lifestyle and food habits contribute to obesity. Lack of exercise and consumption of more fast food diet which contribute to more calories paves way for secondary complications like cardiovascular problems , arthritis, diabetes , etc. More than 60 % of African American women population is estimated to suffer from overweight.

Physical inactivity has been found the foremost reason behind obesity.

Behavioral counseling,stress reduction, structured diets, and medications can be helpful along with encouraging to modify lifestyle practices are the possible interventions to decrease the rate of obesity in adults. The interventions are moderately effective due to presence of inadequate trained staffs to handle patients with obesity and lack of reimbursement and decreased funds for health services . Also patient may feel stigmatized and get low self esteem to approach the clinical setting.

Obesity is an emerging epidemic also in children over 15 years of age. Lack of family support, absence of breast milk consumption during infancy, more use of television and gadgets, intake of fast food, lack of physical activity , anxiety, depression may contribute to obesity in children . Parents, caregivers and the people in society should provide supportive environment to the children . Parents should help the children to relieve from anxiety and depression. Allowing the children to be engage in active sports will be very helpful in improving their mental and physical fitness.

Expanding the health insurance programs , facilitate access to advanced health care services for the prevention and treatment of obesity among health disparity populations will be making the obesity decreasing interventions effective.