Health Systems and Economics

This paper examines obesity as a public health concern and evaluates the role of different stakeholders in addressing it. It also explains the challenges faced during the implementation of a systems thinking approach in Canada. First, using both governmental and non-governmental programs to encourage more stakeholders to participate in public health issues will be useful. There are a number of ways on how to deal with the issue of complexity as regards implementation of a systems thinking approach. Inspiring integrative learning is paramount to solving problems hindering implementation of a systems thinking approach in Canada.

Running head: HEALTH SYSTEMS AND ECONOMICS 1
Health Systems and Economics
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

HEALTH SYSTEMS AND ECONOMICS 2
Health Systems and Economics
Health practitioners need to cooperate with other stakeholders, for example, community
groups and other professionals to enhance healthcare. Conversely, some stakeholders may have
conflicting ideas as well as competing interests about heath. It is important to note that utilizing a
system thinking approach might pose some difficulties, especially during implementation. This
paper examines obesity as a public health concern and evaluates the role of different stakeholders
in addressing it. It also explains the challenges faced during the implementation of a systems
thinking approach in Canada. Furthermore, it offers suggestions for how the technique could be
applied in relation to obesity.
Obesity is a chronic disease that is characterized by excessive body fat accumulation
posing a negative impact on health. A person with a body mass index of above thirty is
considered to be obese. The illness intensifies the possibility of other ailments like osteoarthritis,
obstructive sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (Ogden et al., 2014). Other
illnesses that obese people are at risk of getting are gallstones, heart disease, and high blood
pressure.
Obesity is caused by genetics and sedentary lifestyles among other factors. The disease is
prevented by combining social changes as well as personal choices. Exercise and transformations
to diet are the major treatments (Sobol‐Goldberg, Rabinowitz and Gross, 2013). Diet quality is
enhanced by increasing consumption of dietary fiber and decreasing intake of energy-dense
foods, for instance, those high in sugars or fat. Medications may be necessary along with an
appropriate diet to minimize fat absorption or to decrease appetite (Apovian et al., 2013). In
some cases, a surgery might be conducted to decrease stomach volume.

HEALTH SYSTEMS AND ECONOMICS 3
In Canada, different stakeholders play an imperative role in the reduction in obesity.
Particularly, nurses play a significant role in mitigating the health concern. They advise on the
different diet plans, for example, low-calorie foods and meal-replacement plans. Moreover,
nurses suggest useful lifestyle transformation tips. These include establishing routine exercise
plans for their patients (Gaillard et al., 2013). Other important stakeholders that help in the
management of obesity are nutritionists and dietitians. They develop individualized nutrition
plans for different patients. Subsequently, they also provide advice on establishing a
preparedness to lose weight and transform eating behavior.
Teaching professionals in Canada are important stakeholders necessary for helping
minimize childhood obesity. Conventionally, schools are an ideal setting for conveying the
interventions needed to mitigate childhood obesity. Teachers are essential in educating children
on the essence of healthy eating and physical activity. A physical workout is fundamental in
reducing body fats, therefore, minimizing childhood obesity (Skinner, Perrin and Skelton, 2016).
Pharmacists are important stakeholders that aid in the management of the chronic disease. They
collaborate with other health experts to mitigate the health concern. Pharmacists help in
assessing other ailments which are associated with obesity. They also aid in reinforcing lifestyle
modifications, conducting body fat evaluation and calculating BMI (Body Mass Index).
Consequently, they educate patients on the best strategies to reduce obesity as well as start
treatment in partnership with physicians.
There are several challenges which hinder the application and implementation of a
system thinking approach particularly to obesity specifically in Canada. Foremost, a system
thinking approach may be complex making it difficult to implement it. Many systems used in
public health are usually complex because they have different stakeholders with competing

HEALTH SYSTEMS AND ECONOMICS 4
interests (Prashanth et al., 2014). Another difficulty faced in the implementation of such systems
in Canada is that they are subject to change. Although a system may be effective today, it may be
inefficient tomorrow.
Another challenge that hinders the implementation of systems thinking approaches to
reduce obesity in Canada is a biased misconception. Some stakeholders believe that systems
thinking do not have scientific rigor. Others perceive it to be lacking analytic thinking (Rowitz,
2013). Conversely, system thinkers in public health usually attain a holistic perception of
complex phenomena. It is important to note that this is because they approach public health
issues like obesity as legitimate as well as distinct.
There are diverse recommendations for how a systems thinking approach can be applied
to obesity particularly in Canada. First, using both governmental and non-governmental
programs to encourage more stakeholders to participate in public health issues will be useful.
There are a number of ways on how to deal with the issue of complexity as regards
implementation of a systems thinking approach (Haines, 2016). Various stakeholders must be
continuously advised on how to adapt to the different actions of other people. Furthermore,
stakeholders ought to be taught how to deal with the transforming environment which is in turn
influenced by the actions of other professionals.
Consequently, adequate research is needed by Canada’s health sector to ensure a system
thinking approach remains relevant to its main objective, for instance, reducing obesity. New
governance procedure is another technique that may be essential to mitigate the challenges of
implementing a system thinking approach (Peters, 2014). Contemporary governance in Canada
will provide diverse opportunities to comprehend as well as constantly revise and test the
effectiveness of the systems including how to enhance people's health.

HEALTH SYSTEMS AND ECONOMICS 5
In conclusion, inspiring integrative learning is paramount to solving problems hindering
implementation of a systems thinking approach in Canada. Integrative learning will encourage
different stakeholders, for example, nurses and pharmacists to share crucial ideas on how to
reduce obesity. Another helpful suggestion is to support diverse and dynamic networks between
stakeholders who are aimed to improve health care as well as wellbeing.

HEALTH SYSTEMS AND ECONOMICS 6
References
Apovian, C. M., Aronne, L., Rubino, D., Still, C., Wyatt, H., Burns, C., ... & COR‐II Study
Group. (2013). A randomized, phase 3 trial of naltrexone SR/bupropion SR on weight
and obesity‐related risk factors (COR‐II). Obesity, 21(5), 935-943.
Gaillard, R., Durmuş, B., Hofman, A., Mackenbach, J. P., Steegers, E. A., & Jaddoe, V. W.
(2013). Risk factors and outcomes of maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during
pregnancy. Obesity, 21(5), 1046-1055.
Haines, S. (2016). The systems thinking approach to strategic planning and management. CRC
Press.
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and
adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. Jama, 311(8), 806-814.
Peters, D. H. (2014). The application of systems thinking in health: why use systems
thinking?. Health Research Policy and Systems, 12(1), 51.
Prashanth, N. S., Marchal, B., Devadasan, N., Kegels, G., & Criel, B. (2014). Advancing the
application of systems thinking in health: a realist evaluation of a capacity building
programme for district managers in Tumkur, India. Health research policy and
systems, 12(1), 42.
Rowitz, L. (2013). Public health leadership. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Skinner, A. C., Perrin, E. M., & Skelton, J. A. (2016). Prevalence of obesity and severe obesity
in US children, 1999‐2014. Obesity, 24(5), 1116-1123.
Sobol‐Goldberg, S., Rabinowitz, J., & Gross, R. (2013). School‐based obesity prevention
programs: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obesity, 21(12), 2422-2428.