Analysis of Obesity in UK: Public Health Issues, Strategies, and Roles

This report provides a comprehensive overview of obesity as a significant public health issue in the UK. It begins by outlining the determinants of obesity, including dietary factors, physical activity levels, and environmental exposures, and discusses its prevalence among adults and children. The report then delves into national strategies and health interventions implemented by the government and various organizations to address the obesity crisis, such as disease management programs, awareness campaigns, and initiatives promoting healthy eating and physical activity. Furthermore, the report examines the roles and challenges faced by healthcare professionals in preventing and controlling the spread of obesity, emphasizing the importance of providing guidance on diet, physical activity, and behavior modification. The report concludes with a reflective analysis of initiatives undertaken by a healthcare professional to address obesity within a workplace setting, including the creation of SWOT analysis and strategies for raising awareness among employees. The report highlights the multifaceted nature of obesity and the importance of a multi-pronged approach involving public health interventions, professional guidance, and individual efforts to combat the issue effectively.

PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE-
OBESITY ADULTS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Public health issues in UK..........................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
Reflective report..........................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Health issues of public is nowadays a major concern across the world. Specially in UK,
obesity is the major concern among all age group in public. Obesity is a major concern specially
for the health of children because most of them are affected with obesity issues. This report is all
about on health issues of public in UK. This report is divided into two tasks. First task is about
determinants of obesity issues and its prevalence and also national strategies are to be discussed
which is developed for the concern with health interventions. Roles and challenges played by
health care professional to prevent and to control spread of disease is to be discussed in this
report. Task two is about reflective report under in which role is to be discussed for promoting
and preventing spread of disease in workplace.
TASK 1
Public health issues in UK
Determinants of Obesity health issue and its prevalence
In this 21 century, Obesity has become a major chronic disease which is affecting
constantly to large populations of UK. Mainly affected populations are adults and children
(Keaver and et. al., 2018). According to the survey of WHO report, it was found that 20-40% of
adult populations are affected with issue related to obesity and nearly 10-20% of children are
affected with this chronic disease. Obesity is known for complex, multifactorial and preventable
disease. But nowadays, it is affecting for almost every population of today. Therefore, it is said
that if this trend will continuously increase then by 2030, it is estimated that 38% of population
will become overweight and 20% will remain obese. But majorly affected populations with
obesity is of UK.
According to a survey, in 2016-17 around 617 thousands peoples are admitted in NHS
hospital where majorly the patients are concern with obesity factor. Another survey classified
that 26% adults are affected with this obesity factor in UK. Ratio of children affected with
obesity is that out of 5 every 1 children is affected with obesity (Douglas and et.al., 2018).
Obesity is the disease in people are suffer with excess body weight in comparison to their hight
and excess fatness increase in their body which overall result with an increase in another disease
in body. Due to obesity, there are various another diseases which takes place in human body.
Such diseases may be disability, depression, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases. The sometimes
serious disease like cancer also got affected in human body.
1

Recently, currently used criteria to measure obesity of the adults is the body mass index.
This body mass index is range from underweight (<18.5 kg/m²) to serve. To measure morbid
obesity range given in body mass index is (≥40 kg/ m²). To measure obesity, clinical research
has found that abdominal adiposity is an important factor which measure active fat surrounding
organs of human body. Table which classify body weight of England population are as follows-
This table shows that, women are more obese than men and men are more overweight
than women. This shows that in women, obesity rates are rapidly increasing which is the major
concern for the population of UK. Maximum age group which affected with this obesity is
between 45- 54. This creates huge impact on the health of populations of UK. Because of this
health issues much other health related problems are occurring human body's. Another survey
2
Illustration 1: estimated number of overweight adults
(source: Adult Obesity, 2017)

which estimated percentage of overweight between adults of Blackpool and England population
is as follows-
Different determinants which creates obesity factors are Dietary factors, diet quality and
dietary patterns, physical activity, sedentariness and sleep, physical activity, genetics and Gene,
environmental exposures and built environment.
National strategies and review of different health interventions
Public health interventions are developed to improve mental and physical health
populations across nation. Many organisations are there which are included in public health
interventions like governmental health departments and non-governmental organisations. Motive
of these organisations is to create awareness among public which helps to control spread of
diseases across nations (Russell and et. al., 2018). To create awareness, Welsh legislation and
policy frameworks are the different well beings which is developed for future generations of
society so that it support an action over the disease of an obesity. Different public health
interventions which is develop by government to create awareness among public are Disease
3
Illustration 2: people weight survey
( Source: Adult's Obesity, 2017)

management programs in which by different programs guidance was given among population
regarding health safety. Catastrophic care management in which programs which reduce risk of
individuals are developed. A survey is created by government which are as follows-
It is summarised from above table that nearly children s which are aged 2 to 15 are
majorly overweight and younger generations are staying obese for long period of time. Factors
which create overweight issues among children s are behaviour, Environment, genetics and
culture. Main risk arises from food and drink environment, and less physical activities.
It is also in current trend that children and people eats food late at night and while
watching television which also develops a negative impact on health of youngsters and children.
Therefore, government strategies in which different programs and events is organised develops
an encouragement between peoples (Ezzati, Di Cesare and Bentham, 2018).
Government of different countries have developed an open Gym for the peoples in parks
so that encouragement is developed among people to do physical activities for their health
improvement. Local government of different countries are conducting many Yoga sessions
which also help in developing awareness among peoples in improving their health issues.
4
Illustration 3: obesity problems
( source: Health matters: obesity and the food environment, 2017)

Government started creating awareness from schools so that proper education is developed
among children regarding their health improvements. UK government has started initiatives to
reduce risk of obesity among peoples. Every week government conduct a running marathon for
adults and youngster so that an awareness is developed among peoples regarding their health.
Further, government also creates awareness regarding healthy-eating recommendations
so that people will able to decide what to eat and what not to eat. Food standard agency played
an important role in creating awareness in which they explained people about the harmful food
ingredient which has to avoid in eating. By in taking such ingredient will create a saturated fat is
sugar, salt (Lake, Henderson and Townshend,, 2018). Government influence people to start
eating fruits and vegetable which is good for individual health.
Effective advertising strategies are also developed by government to provide a lesson for
change food habits. These strategies are developed in accordance with age group such as in UK
children aged 15-18 minimum watch 2.5 hour of television per day therefore, huge cost get
involved in developing effective advertising policy. This advertising policies helps government
in creating awareness in adults and children so that they remain active in improving overall
health and eat accordingly. Government also developed cheaper prices for fruits and vegetables
so that people get attracted for eating products which helps them in improving health of
individuals.
Government also conduct regular BMI screening in which they showed overweight
peoples and restrict them for eating unhealthy diets. This programs also conducted in schools
which create an awareness among parents of children so that they provide nutritious food to their
children. Department of health helps in increasing awareness regarding obesity as public health
problem. Department for education and skill will make sure that children receive significant
physical activity and nutritional healthy food in schools (Kirk and et.al., 2017). Government also
conducting programs where celebrities are encourage people to remain active regarding their
health.
Constant strategies are developed by government so that they will able to reduce risk of
obesity among people because generally population of UK is majorly suffering from this obesity
disease.
Roles and challenges played by health care professionals in preventing and controlling the
spread of disease
5

Health care professionals plays an important role to prevent and control spread of obesity
among peoples. They are ones who will able to influence public regarding what to eat and what
not to eat. Generally, public only prefer suggestion of health care professionals so government
also develop pressure on them to promote effective strategies which creates awareness among
public regarding their health. According to a survey it is found that is this obesity trend
continuous in UK then by 2050 half of the population will be affected with obesity.
Therefore, role of healthcare providers is to properly investigate, treat and take proper
care of people who suffer from this obesity disease. Health care professional has to provide
proper guidance to their patient regarding physical activity (Kaplan and et.al., 2018). In their
treatment, they have to mention importance of physical activities in everyday life of individuals.
For this type of issues, professional has to develop verbal persuasion, modelling exercise
behaviour and to discuss positive impact of physical activities by influence people for
developing changes in their lives.
Professional also have to develop effective interventions in which they have to influence
people regarding improvement in diet and to reduce energy intakes which brings effective
support in their personal life. Further, professional also have to include many promotional
activities under which activities is regarding awareness- raising. These policies need to effective
which overall develops long term effects on individuals.
Professional also have to properly discuss regarding patient weight, diet and their
activities which gaining their weight. This overall concern will help professional in guiding
effectively to patient regarding what to eat and what not to. Therefore, professional has to
encourage people to prevent their excess weight gain and also to motivate them in improving
their regular diet. Professional also have to develop effective activities for children and peoples
which educate them for doing some physical activities (Martin, 2018).
Health care professionals will also have to work in shops which include shops,
supermarkets, restaurants, cafes to promote healthy eating. This will also create an awareness
among peoples who visits lots of unhealthy food. Professional also have to support and promote
scheme which developed by communities for societies. This programs include physical activities
which include walking, cycling, running. Support of health professional helps in encouraging
peoples for improving their health.
6

To manage obesity in workplace, health care professional also have to work in
organisation as public health practitioners by which they will able to manage obesity and prevent
it from spreading. Professional also have to tie up with schools where proper education is
provided to children regarding harmful impact of eating junk foods and drinks. Schools also have
to invite their parents in which professional will able to guide them about types of food which
provide to children in their diet.
TASK 2
Reflective report
Being a healthcare professional, I have taken many initiatives by which I will able to
reduce risk related to current issues in public that is Obesity. When I was working as healthcare
professional in my workplace, I have measure that obesity is the major issue which running
under the employees of organisation and women's obesity rates are rapidly increasing which is
the major concern for the population of UK. Maximum age group which affected with this
obesity is between 45- 54. Therefore, I have decided to create my swot analysis by which I will
able to develop effective policies and strategies which create awareness among employees for
improving their health (Sallis, 2018).
In an organisation, employees are so ambitious towards their work in which they forgot
about maintenance of their own health. So I have decided to encourage them in improving their
obesity issues. Many organisations are there which are included in public health interventions
that is governmental health departments and non-governmental organisations.
Motive of these organisations is to create awareness among public's which helps to
control spread of diseases across nations so analysed policies of that organisation to improve
health of employees in workplace. Firstly, I decided to raise awareness between stakeholders of
organisation so that they develop certain aspects of work which improve obesity. I also have
proposed some effective guidelines among them so that they will develop in workplace.
In workplace factors, which creates obesity in organisation among employees are
congested workplaces which limiting opportunities regarding movement during working hours.
Poor facilities of providing healthy food., short breaks, lack of physical activities, limited
availability of nearby parks, areas, grounds. Another factors which created obesity at working
place is occupational stress, long working hours, seating for long time etc.
7

Therefore, to prevent this obesity among employees and as a healthcare professional I
have decided to conduct some assessment to improve health of employees in organisation (Yang
and Colditz, 2015). Being a professional I have strength that I will easily able to influence
people. Therefore, I have decided to conduct an assessment test in which I have examined health
status of employees and also identified problems related to their health. I also have analysed
specific workplace setting which helps me in finding factors which influence obesity among
employees of organisation.
However on the critical note, my weakness is that I do not have effective confidence in
me therefore I will not able to speak among top authorities and also among large public. This
overall creates mismanagement of work in organisation. This also creates misinterpretation
among members and they will not easily accept my strategies in improving their health.
I also have strength of developing multi-tasking work and as a healthcare professional it
helps me a lot. To improve health of members I decided to conduct a regular yoga session in
early morning when all employees reached so that it creates some physical activity in their body.
I also have decided to provide healthy juice instead of providing them tea or coffee. This
strategies overall accepted by employees and they become aware regarding their health (Ginter,
Duncan and Swayne, 2018).
However on the critical note, I do not have effective time management skills which
lacking in conducting timely yoga session and to provide nutritious healthy juice to employee of
organisation.
I also have developed some initiatives to prevent obesity in workplace. For that I
emphasis on building a culture of wellness. In this wellness, with the helps to stakeholders and
board members I decided to provide healthy snacks in can-tine area and to open gym and clinic
nearby office so that regular consultation is provided to employees regarding their health. As a
healthcare professional, I will regular conduct heath test of employees so insist owners to
provide some of the breaks and regarding movement during working hours. Poor facilities of
providing healthy food., short breaks, lack of physical activities, limited availability of nearby
parks, areas, grounds between the work so that effective movement of body will take place in
employees body.
I also have effective analytical skills in which I have done a survey where I take
feedbacks of the workers who are suffering from obesity and working under organisation. By
8

analysing opinion of employees towards maintenance of health during working hours, this helps
me in organising programs which motivates employees to remain active and to develop concern
regarding their health.
However, on the critical note I do not have ability to deal with pressure which lacking me
in developing effective health policies by which helps me in improving health of employees and
employers at workplace.
Being as professional healthcare I have capability to remain flexible with my working
hours. It helps me a lot by which I can analyse any patient of workplace which needs my
consultancy regarding obesity issue. Obesity sometimes also creates depression, heart attack, and
many several diseases. Therefore, flexibility in my working helps me to stay for late and take
proper care patents. For developing activeness in employees regarding health issues I also have
to remain active which encourage other to remain fit.
I have control on my emotional stability which helps me in providing effective treatment
to members of organisation. Many situations are there when I have to questions for bad news
therefore, I always encourage and provide effective treatment to my patients which encourage
them to remain as possible as fit.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it is concluded that obesity is the major issues among population
of UK which has rapidly in past few years. Therefore, this report is about the impact of obesity
disease among people and workers at workplace and in societies. In this report, essay is provided
on public health issues in UK in which certain factors are being discussed and statistical data's
are also provided for better presentation. Images are also provided in this report for better
presentation. National strategies are also discussed in this report which is developed to prevent
disease of obesity among the population of UK. Further, in this report reflective project is
provided for the job role of health care professional which they have to perform in workplaces
for controlling spreading of disease in workplace.
9

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Douglas, N and et. al., 2018. How the food, beverage and alcohol industries presented the Public
Health Responsibility Deal in UK print and online media reports. Critical Public Health.
pp.1-11.
Ezzati, M., Di Cesare, M. and Bentham, J., 2018. Determining the worldwide prevalence of
obesity–Authors' reply. The Lancet. 391(10132). p.1774.
Ginter, P.M., Duncan, W.J. and Swayne, L.E., 2018. The strategic management of health care
organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
Kaplan, L.M and et. al., 2018. Perceptions of barriers to effective obesity care: results from the
national ACTION study. Obesity. 26(1). pp.61-69.
Keaver, L and et. al., 2018. Morbid obesity in the UK: A modelling projection study to
2035. Scandinavian journal of public health. p.1403494818794814.
Kirk, S and et. al., 2017. Establishment of the pediatric obesity weight evaluation registry: a
national research collaborative for identifying the optimal assessment and treatment of
pediatric obesity. Childhood Obesity. 13(1).pp.9-17.
Lake, A.A., Henderson, E.J. and Townshend, T.G., 2018. Exploring planners’ and public health
practitioners’ views on addressing obesity: lessons from local government in
England. Cities & health. 1(2). pp.185-193.
Martin, J., 2018. Australia’s Progress in Improving Diets and Preventing Obesity: Clear
Opportunities for Action. Current obesity reports. 7(3). pp.220-226.
Russell, R and et. al., 2018. The prevalence of overweight and obesity levels among forensic
inpatients with learning disability. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. 46(2). pp.101-
108.
Sallis, J.F., 2018. The Value of the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research: Past,
Present, and Future.
Yang, L. and Colditz, G.A., 2015. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States,
2007-2012. JAMA internal medicine. 175(8). pp.1412-1413.
Online
Adult Obesity. 2017. [ONLINE]. Available through <http://www.blackpooljsna.org.uk/Living-
and-Working-Well/Healthy-Lifestyles/Adult-obesity.aspx>
Health matters: obesity and the food environment. 2017. [ONLINE]. Available through
<https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-obesity-and-the-food-
environment/health-matters-obesity-and-the-food-environment--2>
10