HSH724: Health Cities and Urban Communities: Moreland Obesity Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the health issue of obesity in Moreland City, Australia. It begins with an executive summary and an introduction to the city, including its location, government, demographic information, and the prevalence of obesity and related co-morbidities. The report then delves into the health issue of obesity, identifying the affected group (young adults aged 24-45), demographic data, and the rationale for selecting this group. A significant portion of the report is dedicated to the determinants of health, including social and environmental factors influencing obesity rates. The social determinants discussed encompass behavioral, individual, and socio-economic factors, as well as addictive behaviors. Environmental factors are also examined. The report then proposes a healthy setting approach and specific recommendations, such as taxation on sugary beverages and empowerment initiatives. Finally, the report concludes with a summary of findings and recommendations. The report aims to inform strategies for improving health outcomes and reducing obesity within the Moreland community.

Running head: HEALTH CITIES AND URBAN COMMUNITIES
HEALTH CITIES AND URBAN COMMUNITIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HEALTH CITIES AND URBAN COMMUNITIES
Table of Contents
1.0 Executive Summary...................................................................................................................3
2.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................3
2.0.1 Location and Government..................................................................................................3
2.0.2 Statistical and Demographic information...........................................................................4
2.0.3 Age and Life expectancy....................................................................................................4
2.0.4 Co-morbidities of Obesity..................................................................................................5
2.0.4.1 Diabetes.......................................................................................................................6
2.0.4.2 Psychological Distress.................................................................................................6
2.0.4.3 Other Co-morbidities...................................................................................................6
2.0.5 Purpose of the report...........................................................................................................6
3.0 Health Issue: Obesity.................................................................................................................7
3.1 Affected Group......................................................................................................................7
3.2 Demographic data..................................................................................................................7
3.3 Reason for selecting young and adults (24-45 years) as affected group...............................9
3.4 Determinants of Health..........................................................................................................9
3.4.1 Social Determinants........................................................................................................9
3.5.2 Environmental Determinants........................................................................................11
4.0 Healthy Setting Approach and Recommendations..................................................................12

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4.1 Healthy setting approach.....................................................................................................12
4.2 Recommendations................................................................................................................13
4.2.1 Taxation on Sugary Beverages and foods....................................................................13
4.2.2 Empowerment...............................................................................................................14
5.0 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................18

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1.0 Executive Summary
Moreland city is comprised of 51 square Kilometre area of Melbourne. Moreland
population has been counted up to 162,558 approximately as per the Australian Bureau of
Statistics census of 2016. The aim of this assignment is to develop the idea about the obesity and
the Co-morbidities of obesity as well. The focus of the obesity and the effects of obesity can be
identified in the Moreland city population. The factors affecting the health condition of the
people of this community would be assessed along with the effect of obesity as well. On this
context the findings would be used for the development of the recommendation of better health
outcome plans. The plans would be used for the betterment of the health condition of the
community and also providing sustainable ways that can help the procedure of the health care
and also reducing the amount of obesity of the Moreland people. It has been found by the
assessment that the community is comprised of 43 per cent obese people and developing a
number of chronic disease including cancer and diabetes. The factor of the socio-economic
structure and the lack of health literacy are the primary causes of the obesity development among
the people. The recommended plans for sustaining against this condition are hike in taxation for
the sugary food and beverages and also BMI tool implementation with empowerment for the
people of the community.
2.0 Introduction
2.0.1 Location and Government
Moreland city is located in Melbourne and it is a local government area. It has been
established in the year 1994. This is city is comprised of 51 square Kilometre area of Melbourne.
Moreland city can be found comprised with 16 suburbs (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019). Mayor of

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this city is Natalie Abboud. The city is found under the governance of the Victorian state
legislation and under the Moreland Municipal City Council (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019).
2.0.2 Statistical and Demographic information
Moreland population has been counted up to 162,558 approximately as per the Australian
Bureau of Statistics census of 2016 (Quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au, 2019). Among these
79,507 people are male that is 48.9 per cent and 83,051 are female which is 51.1 per cent of the
total population. Moreover, 815 people are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people who
comprise 0.5 per cent of the total population (Quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au, 2019). Total
number of families in the city is 40,056 and count of children per family is 1.8 per cent
(Quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au, 2019).
2.0.3 Age and Life expectancy
Moreland city population comprises of different age range. Among the total population
children aged 0 to 4 years are 10,264 that is 6.3 per cent, adults aged 25 to 29 years are 17,930
that is 11 per cent, mid aged people that is 5 to 49 years are comprised of 10,274 that is 6.3 per
cent of total population and elderly people of 85 years or above are comprising of 4,311 which is
2.7 per cent of total population (Quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au, 2019). The median age of the
population is 34 and the life expectancy rate of the community for males is 78.6 years, and for
females, it is 84.2 years (Www2.health.vic.gov.au, 2019).
Age 0-4 years 25-29 years 45-49 years 85 years and
over
Population
(number)
10,264 17,930 10,274 4,311
Table 1: Age Based Population of Moreland

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Source: (Quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au, 2019)
Education Pre-school Year 9 or below Advanced
diploma
Bachelor
degree or above
Population
(Number)
2,499 10559 11,425 45,881
Table 2: Education of Moreland Population
Source: (Quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au, 2019)
Employment Full-time Part-time Away from
work
Unemployed
Population
(Number)
50,039 26,309 4,004 5,915
Table 3: Employment of Moreland People
Source: (Quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au, 2019)
2.0.4 Co-morbidities of Obesity
The co-morbidities include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke and colon
cancer. All these diseases can be classified as chronic diseases.
Figure 3: Rate of Chronic Diseases of Moreland Population 2014

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Source: (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019)
2.0.4.1 Diabetes
According to health and wellbeing report of Moreland City Council 2006 to 2011, it has
been seen that diabetes among the Moreland population increased by 161 per cent
(Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019). Thus the city has been highlighted as ‘Diabetes Hot Spot’ by
Diabetes Australia. In 2014 the rate of diabetes increased by 5.7 per cent among the people, and
there is a decrease in diabetes rate reported (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019).
2.0.4.2 Psychological Distress
Moreland people showed more psychological distress, and the rate of the psychological
distress of people increased from 2011 to 2014. 64.6 per cent of people are affected with Low
level of psychological distress (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019). A high level of psychological
distress rate can be seen among 14.4 per cent of people (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019). 24.8 per
cent of people are moderately psychologically distress rate was (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019).
2.0.4.3 Other Co-morbidities
The rate of heart disease, stroke, cancer, arthritis and hypertension are 5.9 per cent, 4.9
per cent, 6.4 per cent, 19.5 per cent and 23.4 per cent respectively (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019).
On this context, it can be seen that the health condition of the city is in a negative state.
2.0.5 Purpose of the report
Moreland is considered as the moderately healthy city as the rate of life expectancy is
moderate. However, one-fourth of the population is overweight, and about one-fifth of the
population is obese. The number sums up to 43 per cent among adult population is obese or
overweight (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019).The co-morbidities of obesity include type 2 diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke and colon cancer. Based on the assessment of the

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health condition of the community the recommended health care settings would be developed as
well for the betterment of the health outcome of the people of Moreland. Finally based on this
assessment and recommended plans the situation should be changed in future for the people of
the community.
3.0 Health Issue: Obesity
3.1 Affected Group
It has been seen that 25 per cent of young and adult people (24-45 years) were
overweight and 18 per cent of young and adult people (24-45 years) obese among the total
population. A significant amount of change in the number of obese people has been seen with
time as 3 adult people among 5 were obese in 2012 (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019).
3.2 Demographic data
The number of overweight people increased from 2008 to 2012 by 4.3 per cent, and the
number of obese people decreased by 0.5 per cent. According to the Moreland City Council
document about health and wellbeing of the city 9.4 per cent decrease in overweight people and
0.3 per cent decrease of obese people has been reported in 2012 (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019).
According to the 2016 census total of 43 per cent of people are overweight or obese collectively
(Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019).

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Figure 1: Moreland Obesity rate 2008
Source: (Www2.health.vic.gov.au, 2019)
Figure 2: Obesity rate Moreland 2008-2014
Source: (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019)
Thus one-fourth of the population is overweight, and about one-fifth of the population is
obese. There are several co-morbidities of obesity can be found among people with obesity or
overweight. The co-morbidities include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke and

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colon cancer. All these diseases can be classified as chronic diseases. Furthermore, on this
context it can be highlighted that the rate of obesity among the Australian adult population is 31
per cent (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019). According to government data 25 per
cent of young and adolescent people are also obese and 8.4 per cent of disease in the Australian
continent is occurring due to obesity (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).
3.3 Reason for selecting young and adults (24-45 years) as affected group
It has been seen that the obesity rate of the population fluctuated with time and there are
different chronic diseases affected the health condition of the community. The factor of the
multiethnic culture and the condition of the health along with life expectancy rate refers that the
adults are more affected by the disease. This is the reason why the adult population are selected
for this assignment.
3.4 Determinants of Health
The following factors can be highlighted as the determinant factors of obese condition of
Moreland population:
3.4.1 Social Determinants
3.4.1.1 Behavioural factors
It has been found that 63.1 per cent of people of the community reported their health to
be ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019). This statistical value showed that the
belief of the people regarding their health status had affected the health condition (Farrell et
al.2016). Reduction of obesity and the process of the health outcome improvement have been
affected through this as well. Based on the survey of 2011 to 2012, the people of Moreland stated
that they were doing daily physical activities to meet the national guidelines, and the rate was
63.2 per cent (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019). Whereas, in 2014, the rate decreased to 38.3 per cent

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and the insufficient daily physical activity reported, which highlighted the increase from 29 per
cent to 52.3 per cent (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019). The behaviour regarding good health and not
doing adequate physical activities lead to the malpractices such overeating and putting on
weight. These aspects affect the health condition and develop obesity among the people.
3.4.1.2 Individual factors
The genetic factors can also be the cause of the obesity of the people. On the other hand
the aspect of the change in the genome and specific mutagenic activity or mutations can cause
the obese condition development as well. On this context it can be also be highlighted as one of
the effective causes of obesity development among the adults and young people (Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019). The genetic aspect leads to negative or ineffective
digestive system which can lead to weight put on as the foods are not properly digested. Hence,
leads to obesity.
3.4.1.3 Socio-economic Structure and Life Expectancy Rate
The socio-economic structure of the community can be highlighted as a middle or low-
income category. 34.5 per cent of the household is classified as a low-income household as per
annum income is lower $33,500 (Www2.health.vic.gov.au, 2019). The life expectancy rate of the
community for males is 78.6 years, and for females, it is 84.2 years (Www2.health.vic.gov.au,
2019). On the other hand, the total population is comprised of 15 per cent of people with age
above 65 years (Moreland.vic.gov.au, 2019). Hence, it can be stated that the life expectancy rate
is moderate in the community. However, the condition of health is not in good terms; that is why
the rate of elderly people is low.

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3.4.1.4 Addictive Nature
The alcohol consumption rate of the people of this population has been seen to be 15.8
per cent among the males (Www2.health.vic.gov.au, 2019). Whereas the female alcohol
consumption rate is higher, that is 31.3 per cent (Www2.health.vic.gov.au, 2019). Thus the
cultural effects have also been highlighted by this data. It has also been found that the daily
smoker amount of this population 24.4 per cent.
Moreover, the socio-economic structure, culture, belief and addictive habits along with a
low level of awareness about wellbeing healthy living practices, accounted for the condition of
the health outcome in a negative pattern (Lal et al.2017). The addictive nature can account to the
blood toxicity development. Thus it helps in development of the ineffective enzymatic condition
which leads to improper digestion, overweight and obesity development. Hence, proper
awareness development and also the development of the proper health care access are required
primarily to develop the health condition of Moreland people. On this context, the plans of the
Moreland municipal council should be considered to develop a proper and concise and cost-
effective plan.
3.4.2 Environmental Determinants
3.4.2.1 Food Intake
Food up take of people also has a stake in the obesity development among the people.
The food habit and also the food portion intake by the adult people also have a key role in the
process of the obesity development. According to government data it has been seen that 18 per
cent adults are overeating in Australian context and out of 3 people 2 people are overweight as
well (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019). Inadequate dietary intake and overeating