Community Health

Community Health

One chronic condition that has a high rate of disparity is chronic obesity. Recent epidemiological statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that African Americans have the highest obesity rates of any race and ethnicity within the United States. The agency estimates that an estimated 40 percent of African-American adults are obese or overweight. Of primary concern is that obesity exposes individuals to chronic disease risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia, chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus, complications during pregnancy, and death at an early age. Hence, some of the goals stipulated in the Healthy People 2020 framework concerning obesity include increasing the percentage of adults at a healthy weight and preventing weight gain among youths and adults (Healthy People 2020, 2021).

Various interventions have been implemented at the different levels of governance, right from the local level to the national level, to address the issue of obesity among African Americans. Within the local level, communities that African Americans and other high-risk groups inhibit have increased access to beverage choices and healthier food within public service venues. This has been achieved by formulating policies that apply nutritional standards that align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to all food sold within local government agencies in the local jurisdiction and on school campuses during school days.

Likewise, the other intervention provides inducements for production and distribution alongside food procurement from local farms. This has been realized by formulating a policy encouraging food production, distribution, and procurement from local farms within the local jurisdiction. At the national level, a policy requires government facilities to accord breastfeeding accommodation to the staff. Several studies have shown that breast milk is integral in preventing childhood obesity by up to 25% (Edelman & Kudzma, 2017).

References

Edelman, C. L., Mandle, C. L., & Kudzma, E. C. (2017). Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span – E-Book. In Google Books. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Healthy People 2020. (2021). Nutrition and Weight Status | Healthy People 2020. Healthypeople.gov. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/nutrition-and-weight-status

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Examine Healthy People 2020 health promotion and disease prevention objectives. Identify a health disparity, research this topic, and discuss how it is addressed locally and nationally.