Childhood Obesity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

This assignment details an action plan to combat childhood obesity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in rural Queensland. The plan focuses on educating families about healthy eating habits and the risks associated with obesity, implementing interventions in schools, and providing resources like brochures and meal plans. The plan emphasizes the need for healthcare employees to regularly engage with families, promote nutritional awareness, and encourage physical activity. The assignment also highlights the significance of addressing the broader community to reduce the burden of obesity-related morbidities and mortalities, acknowledging the historical and socioeconomic factors contributing to the issue, and emphasizing the importance of a self-determination-based approach to improve health outcomes.

References
Abstract
Made by:
Childhood Obesity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in
rural Queensland
Insert names
Introduction
Part A: Effect of the health issue at individual, community and the population level
.
Part B: Key areas of change that can reduce the impact of the health issue on individuals,
communities and population
Part C: Action Plan
Devising an action plan will enable addressing the health issue and target an area of change. The action plan will be to educating
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander” families located in rural Queensland (HealthInfoNet, 2017). There will need to be a minimum of
10 healthcare employees employed in the area such that they can target regularly 5 families, meet with them and educate them
regarding eating habits, health issues concerning “childhood obesity” and challenges associated with tackling such issues. The action
plan will incorporate a healthcare intervention plan aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness amongst Aboriginal families such
that they can tackle the issue with more seriousness. The design of the program will be aimed at educating individual families and
children of such families and raising their awareness (Kassim et al, 2016). The program intervention will also be undertaken at various
schools in the region with a high enrolment of “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander” children. The program's health workers will take
various examples of food and read out their nutritional values. They will be taught regarding the nutritional values of junk and told to
avoid such foods. They will be provided a chart guiding them to healthy food and lifestyle. The program workers will also aim at
suggesting a complete meal plan for children and some regular exercises such that they can maintain a healthy weight. A health
brochure will be prepared and handed over to each of the families such that they can follow the healthy diet suggested in the plan.
Though the program will aim at tackling and attending to the issue of “childhood obesity”, the program will also aim at increasing
awareness amongst adults in the population as well such that they can reduce the burden of morbidities associated with obesity.
In conclusion, “childhood obesity” is a major issue in rural Queensland amongst the “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander” people. Urgent
action needs to be taken to tackle the epidemic of “childhood obesity” amongst “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander” people. The action
plan approach is undertaken aimed at the self-determination-based approach to reduce the growing burden from “childhood obesity” in
the region. Program design needs to be prioritized such that appropriate funding can be obtained for the program to be able to deliver a
coordinated approach in the health issue intervention.
Conclusion
“Childhood obesity” has been noted as one of the leading concerns in public health in Australia. Approximately one amongst four children
in the age group 5 years till 17 years of age are affected by obesity or overweight. Rates of obesity rates has been seen to be higher in
Aboriginal children and those who experiences greater socio-economic disadvantages. Obesity amongst the “Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander” children in rural Queensland is the second-highest contributor in the health gap between children from “Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander” people and the non-Aboriginal. This indicates increased vulnerabilities related to disorders related to metabolism later in
these people’s life. Various data from “Western Australian Children's Diabetes” database reveals an increased diagnosis of “type 2
diabetes” to be 18 times greater compared to non-Aboriginal children. Another study of NSW children cohort showed Aboriginal children
at higher risks of developing kidney diseases related to increased obesity. With the multiple impacts of the health issue at the individual,
community and population level, there needs to be brought about certain key changes to reduce the disparities in health and an action
plan that will address the health issue. Devising an action plan will enable addressing the health issue and target an area of change. The
action plan will be to educating “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander” families located in rural Queensland. There will need to be a
minimum of 10 healthcare employees employed in the area such that they can target regularly 5 families, meet with them and educate
them regarding eating habits, health issues concerning “childhood obesity” and challenges associated with tackling such issues.
Obesity is associated with excess accumulation of fat in the body and it considerably enhances risk of poor physical health as a child
along with risk factors for illnesses and moralities in adulthood (Gittelsohn et al, 2019). Obesity is a result of energy imbalance when a
child consumes eating and drinking is far more than the energy expended through physical activity and bodily functions. The level of
impact of obesity at the level of individuals is that children who are obese are likely to become obese in their adulthood then develop
certain chronic conditions such as “type 2 diabetes” as well as cardiovascular diseases at a younger age (Gupta et al, 2012). “childhood
obesity” is also found associated with an increased rates of diabetes of type 2, coronary heart disease and also certain types of cancers in
adulthood. Thus, children of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders face a higher incidence of “type 2 diabetes” in their childhood with
associated increased risks of diabetes, coronary heart disease and certain types of cancers in their adulthood (Leonard et al, 2018). This
not only increases morbidity but also mortality amongst these children when they grow up as adults. Data obtained from the ABS National
Australian Health Survey revealed that there has been no change in obesity amongst children aged 5-14 years between 2007-2008 and
2017-2018 (AIHW, 2017). The data collected revealed that obesity amongst indigenous children differed due to remoteness. Children
living in very remote areas are more likely to be obese than in major cities. This dramatically increased the associated health costs of
children in these remote areas.
The impact of this health outcome on the community and the population as a whole is the increased incidence of morbidities and
mortalities amongst children and during their adulthood. Further, there is a complex set of inter-related biological and environmental
factors that influences children from the Aboriginal background (Salmon et al, 2019). The presence of intergenerational socio-economic,
cultural and political impact from Australian's colonization led to poor nutrition and health due to the removal of Aboriginals from their
traditional lands. The increased incidence of “childhood obesity” in the population leads to an increased cost of health for the Aboriginals.
Lack of access to proper health further deteriorates the scenario and leads to greater health challenges amongst the member of the
population (Xu, & Xue, 2016). Aboriginals thus in general experience poor health in consideration to their non-Aboriginal counterparts..
High rates of “childhood obesity” amongst the “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander” people are the leading cause of morbidity and
mortality in the community (Burrow, & Ride, 2016). Key areas of change need to be recognized such that the impact of the health
issue can be recognized and steps can be taken (Chiang et al, 2015). The key areas of change for reducing impact have been
identified to be the implementation of best practices in food-related policies. Food and eating habits are one area that needs to be
identified and then awareness needs to be brought about their nutritional value to the Aboriginal people (Banda, 2016). Due to the
presence of eating disorder amongst Aboriginal children and people in general and lack of awareness regarding the nutritional
value of various food items, a key area for reducing the impact of the health issue will need to be food. Following food labeling
strictly will enable monitoring of the calorie intake and address unhealthy issues in the diet. A comprehensive food plan for
children will allow specifically adhering to policies and guidelines (O'Grady et al, 2018). Reaching out to Aboriginal families will
allow addressing and tackling “childhood obesity”.
Another area that can help tackle the issue of “childhood obesity” is educating “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander” people. While
there is an increase in the burden of “childhood obesity” in Queensland rural areas (Klish, & Skelton, 2019). Due to remoteness
and spread out of the condition, people do not diagnose the severity associated with the condition. Spreading and increasing
awareness amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait families will enable tackling the problem. They need to understand the seriousness
associated with the issue and the impact the issue can have on long-term health (Marks etal, 2018). They need to be educated
regarding the associated cost of health care and other costs associated with comorbidities associated with the condition, which
can further deteriorate the health of the community in general.
“Childhood obesity” is one of the most serious mounting concerns in public health in Australia. Approximately one amongst four children in the age group 5 - 17 years are affected by obesity or overweight. Rates of obesity are higher in Aboriginal children as well
as others experiencing greater socio-economic disadvantages. With the multiple impacts of the health issue at the individual, community and population level, there needs to be brought about certain key changes to reduce the disparities in health and an action
plan that will address the health issue. “Childhood obesity” is also found associated with an increase in diabetes, coronary disease of heart as well as some cancers in adulthood. The impact of this health outcome on the community and the population as a whole
is the increased incidence of morbidities and mortalities amongst children and during their adulthood. Further, there is a set of different inter-related biological along with environmental factors that influences children from the Aboriginal background. The action
plan approach is undertaken aimed at the self-determination-based approach to reduce the growing burden from childhood obesity in the region.
AIHW. (2017). A picture of overweight and obesity in Australia https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/45f6ecc6-0caf-4af4-9ffc-a44c885b33d2/aihw-phe-216.pdf.aspx?inline=true
Banda, C. (2016). Obstructive sleep apnoea in obese Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Journal of paediatrics and child health, 52(7), 785-786. DOI: 10.1111/jpc.13215.
Burrow, S., & Ride, K. (2016). Review of diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Retrieved from <https://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3229&context=ecuworkspost2013> accessed [2nd April, 2020].
Chiang, R., Meagher, W. & Slade, S. (2015). How the whole school, whole community, whole child model works: Creating greater alignment, integration and collaboration between health and education. Journal of School Health, 85(11): 775-84.
Gittelsohn, J., Novotny, R., Trude, A., Butel, J. & Mikkelsen, E. (2019). Challenges and Lessons Learned from Multi-Level Multi-Component Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Childhood Obesity International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(1), https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16010030
Gupta, N., Goel, K., Shah, P. & Mishra, A. (2012). Childhood obesity in developing countries: Epidemiology, determinants and prevention. Endocrine Reviews, 33(1): 38-70.
HealthInfoNet, A. I. (2017). Summary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. NSW, 229(31), 3-0.
Kassim, R., Harris, M. A., Leong, G. M., & Heussler, H. (2016). Reply to obstructive sleep apnoea in obese aboriginal and torres strait islander children.Journal of paediatrics and child health, 52(7), 786-786. DOI: 10.1111/jpc.13260.
Klish, W. & Skelton, J. (2019) Definitions, epidemiology and etiology of obesity in children and adolescents. A. Hoppin (Ed.), UpToDate retrieved 30/12/19
Leonard, D., Buettner, P., Thompson, F., Makrides, M., & McDermott, R. (2018). Linking ‘data silos’ to investigate anaemia among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and children in Far North Queensland.Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 42(5), 456-462. DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12821.
Marks, J., Barnett, L. & Allender, S. (2018). Is school community perception of student weight status a barrier for addressing childhood obesity? Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 30(1).
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Salmon, M., Skelton, F., Thurber, K. A., Kneebone, L. B., Gosling, J., Lovett, R., & Walter, M. (2019). Intergenerational and early life influences on the well-being of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: overview and selected findings from Footprints in Time, the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children.Journal of developmental origins of health and disease, 10(1), 17-23. DOI: 10.1017/S204017441800017X.
Xu, S. & Xue, Y. (2016). Pediatric obesity: Causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 11(1) DOI: 10.3892/etm.2015.2853