Key Health Determinants | Desklib

Running head: KEY HEALTH DETERMINANTS
KEY HEALTH DETERMINANTS
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1KEY HEALTH DETERMINANTS
Key health determinants
Obesity is a common metabolic disease prevalent in United States. It affected about 93.3
million of the adult population in US. The estimated annual cost of obesity in US has been found
to be about $147 billion in the year 2017 (Centers for disease control and prevention, 2018). The
medical costs for obese people are about $147 billion higher than that of the normal people.
Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes, stroke and many
other clinical conditions leading to premature and preventable deaths.
Determinants of obesity problem in United States
Access to health care
People living in the rural areas or those belonging to low socioeconomic status might not
get access to effective primary strategies for obesity prevention. Unavailability of proper
dieticians of nutritionists for making assisting to make a proper diet plan and exercise regimen
might be an important factor behind obesity problems (Hill, You & Zoellner, 2014).
Social environment
Socio-economic status can be an important determinant of obesity as people suffering
from poverty are likely to consume unhealthy fast food as they night not afford healthy and
nutritious, fresh foods (Suglia et al., 2016). Other factors like the increased portion sizes,
proliferation of the fast food chain are also contributing to obesity problems.
Individual behavior
The behavioral influences on the intake of energy and energy expenditure is also
important. Obesity promoting individual behaviors like frequent consumption of the fast food,

2KEY HEALTH DETERMINANTS
adopting a sedentary life style, high consumption of sweetened beverages, skipping of breakfast,
large portion sizes and intentional lack of physical exercises contributes to obesity (Affenito et
al., 2012).
Physical environment
Physical environmental factors such as the overcrowding, lack of proper space, lack of
playgrounds and parks can contribute to obesity. Adults and children cannot practice exercises or
physical activities due to lack of spaces.
Genetics
There are studies that have provided evidence about the different genetic variants that
might contribute to obesity by increasing the food intake. According to Choquet and Meyre,
(2011), defects in eight genes involved in the neuronal differentiation in the leptin pathway have
been found to be linked to monogenic obesity. Most of the literary evidences suggests that it is
the dietary habits that interacts with the genes fir modulating the predisposition to obesity.
Amongst all the determinants I believe that it is the individual behavior, which is the
most important determinant of obesity. Lack of awareness among the adolescents about the
correct choice of food, easy availability of take-away food, large number of fast food restaurants
are provoking people against unhealthy life choices. Unhealthy choices of food is always not
guided by socio-economic status, but also upon individual choices.
Epidemiological data
A large number of epidemiological data supports the prevalence of obesity amongst
people. According to Aldrich et al., (2015), 38 % of the world population will become