Analysis of Childhood Obesity and Action Plan for Rural Queensland

This report delves into the critical issue of childhood obesity, specifically focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children residing in rural Queensland. It meticulously examines the detrimental effects of this health concern at individual, community, and population levels, highlighting the increased risks of various health problems, psychological issues, and reduced quality of life. The report identifies key areas where interventions can be implemented, such as involving Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) and fostering government collaboration to provide adequate resources and healthcare services. Furthermore, it proposes a comprehensive action plan, emphasizing strategies like family-oriented approaches, targeted programs on eating habits, and addressing potential barriers faced by the communities. The ultimate goal is to mitigate the impact of childhood obesity and improve the overall health outcomes for children in rural Queensland.

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

severe in children of Strait Island like for example these children are at high risk of facing
several other psychological factors such as anxiety n depression. They are also facing the feeling
of aggressiveness and these children has also developed inferiority complex among other.
Childhood obesity has reduced the quality of life of children living in rural and remote areas.
There are various community factors which have affected the dietary pattern of children living in
Strait Island such as physical environment of the family, affordability of the food and various
other social conditions. Aboriginal children because of this disease can also face severe health
problems like cancer, type 2 diabetes in near future. So in order to overcome these problem
communities needs to come up with promotional policies plan so that health outcome of
aboriginal children living in Strait Islander can be improved.
PART B
Key areas where change can be made to reduce the impact or effect of the health issue on
individuals, communities and populations
Childhood obesity is one of the major health related problem faced by the children living in
Torres Strait Island in rural Queensland. Research has provided that 36.4% of aboriginal children
are obese. This is because of the reasons like inadequate health services, lack of policies and
rules to promote health aspects of children, poor dietary plan etc. It has also been analysed from
the research so many of the obese children are suffering from several chronic diseases like blood
pressure, cardiovascular problem and other metabolic disorders. In order to overcome this
problem it is really necessary to bring up with the changes that are laying impact on key areas.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) must be involved in motivating the
children to follow the healthy life style and proper dietary plans.
This can assist them in improvising the quality of life of children who are living in remote
areas. The program initiated by ACCHS must address obese and overweight children. It has been
analyzed that in order to improve the conditions of obese children in rural Queensland it is really
necessary for government to collaborate and work with aboriginal communities. Proper funding,
resources and health care services must be provided to them so that it becomes easier for them to
overcome the problem of childhood obesity (Baidal and et.al., (2016). Aboriginal leadership
must be embraced at all levels to drive the development of relevant programs and policies.
Government needs to develop that program that better address the problem without any
inequities. They must also provide multi-disciplinary team to these children so that holistic care

can be provided to them which can assist them in reducing the impact of child hood obesity in
them. Proper education can also be provided during the time of implementation of health related
program. This will assist government in increasing the knowledge of communities related to
early signs and symptoms of disease (Rankin and et.al., 2016. State government needs to work
with full coordination with ACCHS so that the effect of child hood obesity can be reduced from
the communities. It will support them in improvising the quality of life of children living in rural
Queensland. In order to improve the health outcome of aboriginal children proper funding must
be provided by government and also high level of training must be given to all employees
working in ACCHS so that they can effectively handle situation like this. It will assist them in
reducing the impact of childhood obesity and make children healthier.
PART C
An action plan to address the health issue, targeting a minimum of one (1) key area of change
It is really necessary to make an action plan so that it childhood obesity can be prevented in
aboriginal communities living in rural Queensland. It has been analysed that urgent actions is
been needed so that the risk related to severe diseases because of obesity can be reduced in
Torres Strait Island. Action plan like they can implement program which target parents and the
children where training can be provided to them about eating habits and parenting activities so
that healthier life can be adopted by the children. Government can make use of family oriented
approach as an strategy to reduce the effect of childhood obesity in communities. They can
design a program which focuses on the needs and wants of children living in Torres Island. The
program objective must focus on reducing the consumption of high calorie food items and
increase the consumption of low calorie food item in aboriginal children. This will support them
in preventing the children living in remote area to be overweight. It has also been evaluated that
program also needs to focus on providing adequate funds and resources to local communities so
that they can impart adequate training to their care workers (Singer & Lumeng, (2017).
This will support the communities in improvising the quality of life of children who are
living in rural Queensland. In order to explore the program,, government should also analyse the
barriers’ which can be faced by aboriginals. The care must be provided at low cost as the money
to pay for food or activities many not be available to them. They also need to consider the local
issues which are being faced by children living in remote areas as all the aboriginals
communities are not same. Assistance must also be provided to local communities as resources

for promoting health and physical activity is limited. Also the aboriginal people will not be able
to explore the program whose cost is high. So all these challenges must be analysed and then
action plan needs to be builder by government.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been summarised that childhood obesity is one of the most
chronic disease which has been faced by children living in aboriginal Strait Island. It has also
been analysed from the report that child hood obesity has caused severe problem to children like
diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular problem, blood pressure. It has laid severe impact on the quality
of life of children. This disease has laid negative impact on their health aspect. It has been
analysed that in order to overcome problem related to child hood obesity proper health care
service must be given to children of rural Queensland. They must also be provided with proper
education to maintain physical diet.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Singer, K., & Lumeng, C. N. (2017). The initiation of metabolic inflammation in childhood
obesity. The Journal of clinical investigation, 127(1), 65-73.
Baidal, J. A. W., Locks, L. M., Cheng, E. R., Blake-Lamb, T. L., Perkins, M. E., & Taveras, E.
M. (2016). Risk factors for childhood obesity in the first 1,000 days: a systematic
review. American journal of preventive medicine, 50(6), 761-779.
Mendes, M. E. M., & Santos, D. (2018). CHILDHOOD OBESITY: PROBLEM PRESENT,
FUTURE CONSEQUENCES. INVESTIGAÇÃO, 17(2).
Braun, J.M., 2017. Early-life exposure to EDCs: role in childhood obesity and
neurodevelopment. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 13(3), p.161.
Rankin, J., Matthews, L., Cobley, S., Han, A., Sanders, R., Wiltshire, H.D. and Baker, J.S., 2016.
Psychological consequences of childhood obesity: psychiatric comorbidity and
prevention. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics, 7, p.125.

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