Advocacy Through Legislation: Addressing Obesity as a Public Health Issue

Problem

In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues.

Obesity is a complex condition that involves the accumulation of body fat. Obesity is not only a cosmetic problem but it is a medical problem that exposes people to health problems. Diagnosis of obesity is through calculation of the Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing an individual's weight in Kilograms by their square height in Meters. A BMI of more than 30 is an indicator of obesity. The prevalence of obesity in the United States between 2017 and March 2020 was 41.9%. There has been an increase in the obesity rate from 1999 to 2000 to 2017 to 2020 from 30.5% to 41.9% (CDC, 2022). During the same period, severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%. Obesity affects some groups more than other people. 49% of Non-Hispanic Black adults, 45.6% of Hispanic adults, 41.4% of non-Hispanic white adults, and 16.1% of non-Hispanic Asian adults suffer from obesity. The prevalence of obesity varies among adults of different ages. The rate of obesity is 39.8% among adults aged 20 to 39 years, 44.3% among individuals aged 40 to 59 years and 41.5% among people older than 60 years (CDC, 2022). One of the most prevalent ramifications of obesity is that it contributes to ill health among the adults. Obesity leads to serious health problems such as strokes and heart disease due to unhealthy cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes as obesity affects how the body utilizes insulin to control blood sugar levels, and digestive problems as obesity increases the risk of developing gallbladder disease, heartburn, and liver problems. It also results in sleep apnea and certain types of cancers.

Idea for Addressing Solution

In no more than 250 words, outline your idea for addressing the issue and explain why legislation is the best course for advocacy.

Obesity can be addressed by the consumption of healthy fats such as polyunsaturated fats that improve the levels of the cholesterols and risk of obesity. It is essential to consume less sugary and less processed foods as they result in to high obesity risk. The diet consumed should consist of more fruits and vegetables to ensure that the levels of calories are at reasonable levels. Foods consumed should comprise plenty of dietary fiber as it plays a crucial role in maintaining weight. A healthy weight can be maintained through regular aerobic activity that incorporates 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity and 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity in a week (Lockett, 2018). It is essential for an obese willing to lose weight to participate in a weight training regimen that involves an exercise routine of two muscles twice a week. Additionally, it is essential for individuals willing to lose weight to focus on reducing their daily stress. Advocacy on the issue is important as both local and state governments have the responsibility to develop and implement measures that are necessary for countering obesity. Advocacy should be on the requirement to disclose the nutritional content of all the foods served in the restaurant's food, restrict advertising of junk food, mandate physical education programs and nutrition in schools, and introduce requirements to monitor the body mass index of students at school (Hernández-Quevedo et al., 2019). There is a need to introduce measures to regulate the selling of junk food, improve opportunities issue incentives for non-motorized transportation and prevent fast food outlets aggregation.

Research the Issue

Perform research and compile information for your idea. Present substantive evidence-based findings that support your idea for addressing the problem (studies, research, and reports). Include any similar legislation introduced or passed in other states.

Evidence 1: School-based interventions are crucial in addressing obesity among the children. The interventions include; promoting physical education classes and physical activities, improving the nature of the school playgrounds, providing healthy lifestyle classes, and having nutritious foods in the school cafeterias (Smith et al., 2020). Nutritional intervention which involves the consumption of nutritious foods should also be exercised in the families.

Evidence 2: It is crucial to implement policies that regulate policies on mass media campaigns on ultra-processed foods. More taxes should be imposed on ultra-processed foods, there should be warning labels on the foods, and marketing restrictions should be enforced on the products (Tiwari & Balasundaram, 2023).

Stakeholder Support

Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support.

Stakeholder(s) Supporting 1: The supporting stakeholders would be the general public. Obesity affects people of all ages and thus these policies will be essential in enhancing the health of the general public.

Stakeholder(s) Supporting 2: Nurses and other healthcare providers are the supporters of the policy as they act as the patients' advocates for the best interests. They advocate for the behavioral changes that enhance the patient outcomes of the general population.

Stakeholder Opposition

Discuss the stakeholders who would oppose the proposed idea. Explain why they would be in opposition and how you would prepare to debate or converse about these considerations.

Stakeholder(s) Opposed 1: Businessmen are likely to oppose policies on fast food regulation and mass media marketing of the over-processed foods. Regulation of fast foods will limit its accessibility and this will adversely affect sales.

Stakeholder(s) Opposed 2: Politicians are likely to oppose the bills that aim at raising taxes on the ultra-processed foods. This is because an increase in taxes will attract a lot of critics from outside and this may reflect on the polls during elections.

Financial Incentives/Costs

In no more than 250 words, summarize the financial impact of the issue and the idea (added costs, cost savings, increased revenue, etc.). Provide support.

In 2019, the obesity-related medical care was estimated to be $173 Billion. There were also costs associated with productivity and obesity-related absenteeism and this ranged between $3.38 Billion and $6.38 billion (CDC, 2022). The direct costs of obesity are associated with preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services. Indirect costs of obesity are related to death and sicknesses and loss of productivity. Productivity is measured in terms of employees' absenteeism from work due to decreased productivity in the workplace, obesity-related health reasons, and premature disability and death. Obesity increases the unemployment chances and this will adversely affect the wage. Premature deaths due to obesity imply a loss to the economy. Childhood obesity has huge financial implications for the healthcare sector. There has been an increase in the annual total medical costs to $237.55 per capita and this can be attributed to overweight and obesity of the children. Obesity and overweight lead to an increase in per-capita costs of $14.27, $56.52, $1975.06, and $46.38 in outpatient visits, nonhospital healthcare, hospitalization, and medication costs respectively. The indirect and direct costs due to obesity are projected to be $49.02 billion and $13.62 billion respectively by 2050 (Ling et al., 2023). Childhood obesity is associated with higher healthcare costs than the costs that are associated with overweight. During childhood, the direct expenditures associated with medical care are higher among males than females but upon reaching adulthood, the expenditures are higher for females than for males.

Legislature: Information Needed and Process for Proposal

Discuss the how to advocate for your proposal using legislation. Include the following:

Provide the name and complete contact information for the legislator: Laureen Underwood, Joliet District Office, (630) 549-2190

Describe the steps for how you would present this to your legislator: The first step will be making a small presentation on the issue and the second step will be to book an appointment with the legislator. If permitted to meet the representative, the next step will be to make the presentation.

Outline the process if your legislator chooses to introduce your idea as a bill to Congress:

• Introduction of the bill
• Committee action
• Floor Action
• Voting for the bill
• Conference Committees
• President Signature
• Creation of the law

Christian Principles and Nursing Advocacy

In no more than 250 words, discuss how principles of a Christian worldview lend support to legislative advocacy in health care without bias. Be specific as to how these principles help advocate for inclusiveness and positive health outcomes for all populations, including those more vulnerable, without regard to gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, religion/belief, etc.

Christians should utilize the principles of equity, fairness, and justice to reduce the rate of obesity and lead better lives. The principle of justice entails being fair to everyone, honoring God, and honoring their neighbors. Obesity as a public health issue affects majorly individuals of low-income communities and obese individuals face stigmatization and discrimination. Advocacy is an important aspect of the Christian worldview as it requires the nurses to help individuals who are in need just like Jesus Christ spread the Gospel. Equality and fairness require all people to be treated in the same manner while taking into consideration sexual and gender orientation, race, and culture. Nurses are pillars in advocating for the patient's best interests. Just like Jesus, nurses should advocate for the people who are voiceless and experience fear due to their sense of value and self-worth. Through service to other people, nurses act according to the biggest commandment of "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as you love yourself." By advocating for the patient's best interests, nurses can achieve equity in healthcare by eliminating health disparities among low-income households as well as the communities that are highly impacted by obesity.

References

• CDC. (2022). Adult Obesity Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
• Hernández-Quevedo, C., Gauci, C., & Rechel, B. (2019). Childhood obesity in Europe and policies to address it. Eurohealth, 25(1), 7-10. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/332526/Eurohealth-25-1-7-10-eng.pdf
• Ling, J., Chen, S., Zahry, N. R., & Kao, T. S. A. (2023). Economic burden of childhood overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 24(2), e13535. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/obr.13535
• Lockett, E. (2018). How to Prevent Obesity in Kids and Adults. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-prevent-obesity
• Smith, J. D., Fu, E., & Kobayashi, M. A. (2020). Prevention and management of childhood obesity and its psychological and health comorbidities. Annual review of clinical psychology, 16, 351-378. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-100219-060201
• Tiwari, A., & Balasundaram, P. (2023). Public health considerations regarding obesity. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572122/