NR 506 Week 4 Obesity Health Policy Analysis

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-506: Healthcare Policy

Prof. Name:

Date

Obesity Health Policy Analysis

Amber Holliday Bryant

Chamberlain University College of Nursing
NR506NP: Healthcare Policy and Leadership
Dr. Michelle Keating-Sibel
March 29, 2020

Problem Statement

Should government officials proactively promote obesity interventions, programs, and education within rural areas?

Background

In Knott County, Kentucky, the obesity rate among adults is 41%, with 40% of adults being physically inactive. Only 31% of residents have access to exercise opportunities, and 41% of children live in poverty (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2020). This presents a significant health challenge that requires immediate attention to reduce the impact of obesity and associated conditions.

Landscape

Key Stakeholders

The key stakeholders involved in addressing obesity in rural areas include healthcare providers, the food industry, health insurance providers, and Democratic/Republican politicians and lobbyists advocating for improved obesity awareness and interventions.

1. Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers have a vested interest in combating obesity due to its effects on patients’ overall health. They are influenced by social, economic, practical, and quality-of-care factors but face minimal legal or political factors.

2. Food Industry

The food industry plays a significant role in the obesity crisis, with its policies affecting obesity rates. Social, economic, practical, and political factors are relevant, though legal and quality-of-care concerns are not directly applicable.

3. Health Insurance Industry

Health insurance providers have an interest in improving health outcomes by promoting obesity prevention, with political, economic, practical, and quality-of-care factors influencing their stance. However, social and legal factors are less significant.

4. Democratic/Republican Politicians and Lobbyists for Improved Obesity Awareness

Both political parties have introduced bills to reduce obesity. Democrats have Bill H.R. 1530, and Republicans have Bill S. 595, both waiting for passage in the Senate (Library of Congress, 2019). These efforts are shaped by political, social, practical, and legal factors, but economic and quality-of-care factors are not as influential.

Options

1. Add an Additional Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Snack Foods

This strategy targets vulnerable populations, such as children and low-income families. Other countries have implemented similar taxes, with moderate success (Cedeno, 2019).

2. Develop a Free-of-Charge Location That Promotes Exercise

Schools could open gyms and playgrounds for community use, offering fitness classes and safe spaces for physical activity. Community parks play a vital role in reducing obesity (Edwards et al., 2015).

3. Educate School-Aged Children on Obesity Risks and Preventative Measures

With a high graduation rate in Knott County (98%), schools are an ideal setting for promoting obesity education. Health and science teachers can incorporate lessons into the curriculum, helping to raise awareness about obesity and its prevention (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2020).

4. Provide Funding for Fresh Vegetables

Providing free vegetables to families, based on household size, could encourage healthier eating. However, some families might refuse to eat the vegetables, despite their availability (Carty, Mainvil, & Coveney, 2017).

Recommendation

The most effective intervention would be to educate school-aged children on obesity risks and prevention. Teaching healthy habits at a young age can influence future choices and affect family dynamics. The cost of implementing this strategy would be minimal, though it may require frequent updates. Additionally, there may be challenges in incorporating these lessons into the school curriculum, and some children may still make unhealthy choices despite the education.

Table: Stakeholders, Factors, and Proposed Solutions

Stakeholder	Political Factors	Social Factors	Economic Factors	Practical Factors	Legal Factors	Quality-of-Care Factors
Healthcare Providers	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Food Industry	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Health Insurance Industry	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Democratic/Republican Politicians	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
Proposed Solutions
Add Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Develop Exercise Locations	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Educate School-Aged Children	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Provide Funding for Vegetables	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

References

Carty, S. A., Mainvil, L. A., & Coveney, J. D. (2017). Exploring family home food environments: Household resources needed to utilize weekly deliveries of free fruits and vegetables. Nutrition & Dietetics, 74(2), 138–146.

Cedeno, L. (2019). Global implementation of soda taxes: Is there a better solution for combatting obesity? Brooklyn Journal of International Law, 45(1), 229–365.

County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. (2020). Explore rankings. Retrieved from https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/kentucky/2020/rankings/knot/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot

Edwards, M. B., Jilcott, S. B., Floyd, M. F., & Moore, J. B. (2015). County-level disparities in access to recreational resources and associations with adult obesity. Palaestra, 29(2), 39–54.