Childhood Obesity: Impact, Key Areas for Change, and Action Plan

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART A...........................................................................................................................................3
Impact of the health issue at the level of individual, community and the population.................3
PART B...........................................................................................................................................4
Key areas where change can be made to reduce the impact or effect of the health issue on
individuals, communities and populations..................................................................................4
PART C...........................................................................................................................................5
An action plan to address the health issue, targeting a minimum of one (1) key area of change5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Childhood obesity can be known as the condition in which child is overweight for his or her
age and height. It has significant impact on physical and psychological health of children. It is
one of the most serious medical conditions that can affect the quality of life of children or
adolescents. Childhood obesity can also lead to several other problems like blood pressure,
cardiovascular problem etc. Present report will lay emphasis on Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children living in rural Queensland. It will show the impact of the health issue at the
level of individual, community and the population. Assignment will also identify the key areas
where the change can be made. Report will describe the action plan to address health issue and at
least one area of change.
PART A
Impact of the health issue at the level of individual, community and the population
Childhood obesity increases the risk of various acute and chronic health related problems. It
is also one of the major reasons for the psychological issues faced by children. This disease has
negative impact on the health of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are living in
rural Queensland. It is one of the most serious health challenges which have profoundly affected
the aboriginal children (Braun, 2017). It has been analysed that in around one in four children
aged between 5-17 are affected by obesity. Obesity is the second biggest contributor (16%) to the
gap in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Children in rural Strait
Island are at higher risk of metabolic disorders (Mendes & Santos, (2018).
It has been analyzed that they are facing several health related problems like breathing
problems such as asthma, cardiovascular problem. The children in Strait Island are been
suffering from various orthopedic complications which includes abnormal bone growth,
degenerative disease and pain. One of the major causes of this problem is that aboriginal people
have inadequate amount of resources and also they have poor dietary plans which is one of the
major reason that they are more prone to obesity than the urban children. Obesity is been
considered is one of the second biggest contributor to the gap in health status between aboriginal
and non aboriginal people living in Queensland. There are various factors behind the rise of
causes related to obesity in aboriginal children. It includes financial stress, insecurity related to
food, urbanization and the inadequate health services. Majority of the children who are suffering
from obesity are mainly living in the non-remote areas. The impact of child hood obesity is