PA006 Global Healthcare Issues

Student Name

Western Governors University

D025 Essentials of Advanced Nursing Roles and Interprofessional Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

Reassessment of Global Health Issue: Obesity

Description of the Issue

Obesity has escalated into a major global health crisis, profoundly affecting populations worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2021) reported that in 2016, approximately 1.9 billion people were overweight. Obesity, defined by an excessive accumulation of body fat, not only affects individual health but also places a significant strain on healthcare infrastructures and hampers economic productivity on a global scale. This issue disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated global strategies to combat obesity (Caballero, 2019).

Country-Specific Policies on Obesity

Country	Policy Description	Strengths	Weaknesses
United States	The U.S. has implemented targeted policies to reduce childhood obesity. Notably, the “Let’s Move!” campaign, initiated by Michelle Obama in 2010, promotes physical activity and healthy eating habits. The “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010” sets nutritional standards for school meals overseen by the USDA. Additionally, the CDC funds community interventions through the “Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD)” project (Bradwisch et al., 2020).	Comprehensive approach with focus on nutrition and physical activity; support for community programs	Policies are mostly voluntary; challenges in consistent implementation across different regions
Canada	Canada’s approach targets obesity across all age groups with policies like the “Sugary Drink Tax,” “Fast Food Restaurant Act,” and the “Marketing of Unhealthy Foods to Children Act.” These aim to reduce unhealthy consumption and encourage healthier choices (Kao et al., 2020).	Uses economic incentives to curb unhealthy behaviors; regulates fast-food outlets’ density and location	Taxation may disproportionately affect lower-income groups; difficulties in assessing policy effectiveness

How Do Social Determinants of Health Affect Obesity Rates?

Social determinants such as education level and income inequality play a critical role in influencing obesity prevalence in both the U.S. and Canada. Lower educational attainment and economic disparities are strongly associated with higher obesity risks, underscoring the importance of tailored interventions that address these underlying social factors (Golden, 2021; CDC, 2023). Addressing these determinants is essential for developing effective and equitable obesity prevention strategies.

What Is the Impact of Obesity on Local Health Organizations and Policies?

Obesity’s widespread impact demands that local health organizations adjust their resource allocation and service delivery strategies. In the U.S., there is an emphasis on primary prevention efforts; however, resource constraints pose significant challenges. Conversely, Canadian health organizations adopt a more comprehensive and accessible approach focused on both prevention and treatment (Feng & Martin, 2020; Lytvyak et al., 2022). These differing approaches reflect the healthcare systems’ structures and policy priorities in each country.

How Do Obesity Policies Affect the Global Population?

Canada’s obesity-related policies have implications that extend beyond national borders. Effective strategies, such as taxing sugary drinks and regulating food marketing, offer valuable models for other countries aiming to combat obesity. Knowledge exchange and international collaboration based on these successes can drive global progress in obesity prevention and management (Ríos-Reyna et al., 2022).

What Is the Role of Nurses as Advocates in Addressing Obesity?

Health policies directly influence how nurses engage in advocacy related to obesity. In the U.S., nurses are empowered to promote healthy behaviors at the individual and community levels, emphasizing education and lifestyle changes. Meanwhile, in Canada, nurses also play a role in advocating for systemic and public health interventions, contributing to broader policy initiatives that tackle obesity on multiple fronts (Chang et al., 2021).

Conclusion

Effectively addressing the global obesity epidemic requires multi-faceted strategies that account for social determinants and adapt to specific country contexts. Both the United States and Canada provide valuable lessons through their policies, with strengths and challenges unique to their settings. Collaboration, ongoing policy evaluation, and sharing of best practices remain vital for mitigating the worldwide impact of obesity.

References

Berry, E. M. (2020). The Obesity Pandemic-Whose Responsibility? No Blame, No Shame, Not More of the Same. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.00002

Bradwisch, S. A., Smith, E. M., Mooney, C., & Scaccia, D. (2020). Obesity in children and adolescents: An overview. Nursing, 50(11), 60–66. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000718908.20119.01

Caballero, B. (2019). Humans against Obesity: Who Will Win? Advances in Nutrition, 10(suppl_1), S4–S9. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy055

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Policy Resources. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/divisioninformation/policy/index.htm

Chang, W. P., Wang, C. H., & Lin, Y. K. (2021). Influence of Obesity on Heart Rate Variability in Nurses with Age and Shift Type as Moderators. BioMed Research International, 2021, 8119929. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8119929

Feng, W., & Martin, E. G. (2020). Fighting obesity at the local level? An analysis of predictors of local health departments’ policy involvement. Preventive Medicine, 133, 106006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106006

Golden, A. (2021). Obesity’s Impact. The Nursing Clinics of North America, 56(4), xiii–xiv. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2021.08.004

Kao, K. E., Jones, A. C., Ohinmaa, A., & Paulden, M. (2020). The health and financial impacts of a sugary drink tax across different income groups in Canada. Economics & Human Biology, 38, 100869. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570677X19302746