Question

Name one strategy of curbing the obesity menace in the Rio Grand Valley, and elaborate how it could be effectively implemented using health communication.

need some help answering this question for my communications class in healthcare.

multiple examples and solutions are welcomed thank you.

Answer 1

From a population perspective, obesity prevention means reversing this shift—lowering the mean BMI level and decreasing the incidence of obesity, that is, the rate at which people enter the upper end of the BMI distribution. Stabilization of the BMI distribution or the incidence of new people crossing the relevant BMI threshold (30 kg/m2for adults or the 95th sex–age percentile of the BMI reference for children) would be the first sign of success, followed by a decline in these indicators. Within the population, accomplishing this will require that adults at a healthy weight (i.e., not underweight, overweight, or obese) maintain that status and avoid the phenomenon of excess weight gain that commonly accompanies aging. For children, prevention means maintaining a healthy weight trajectory and preventing excess weight gain while growing, developing, and maturing. Prevention for individuals who are already overweight or obese can be defined as avoiding progression to a more severe level of obesity and/or preventing or delaying the onset of obesity-related medical conditions.

Examples of strategies and actions that might be undertaken by communities and neighborhoods to improve dietary behaviors include   1)Advocating for zoning that limits fast food establishments, 2)Facilitating the situating of supermarkets in underserved neighborhoods (based on observational data that access to a supermarket is associated with better dietary quality and/or increased fruit and vegetable intake,3)Increasing the availability of farmers’ markets, and creating and supporting community gardens. Examples of strategies and actions to increase physical activity include supporting safe routes to school, creating and maintaining a walking school bus, increasing the number of parks and bike paths, and enhancing walking infrastructure.

Examples:

As we continue to modernize our lifestyles — riding instead of walking, working in a cubicle instead of in a field, playing iPods instead of sports — more people are becoming overweight and, worse, obese. In fact, there are so many overweight and obese people that some public health officials now call it an epidemic, particularly because of the many resulting health problems.

Obesity: Finding a Solution

Getting our obesity and overweight epidemic under control will involve more than just telling everyone to go on a diet. The World Health Organization says it requires an integrated approach that includes:

• Promoting healthy eating habits and encouraging exercise
• Developing public policies that promote access to healthy, low-fat, high-fiber foods
• Training healthcare professionals so that they can effectively support people who need to lose weight and help others avoid gaining weight

Here's what you can do to lose weight or avoid becoming overweight or obese:

• Eat more fruit, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains.
• Exercise, even moderately, for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Cut down your consumption of fatty and sugary foods.
• Use vegetable-based oils rather than animal-based fats.

So walk a little more, eat a little less — and do what you need to do to maintain a healthy BMI.