Analyzing Obesity in Southwark: Public Health Challenges and Solutions

This report critically examines the issue of childhood obesity in the Southwark Borough of London, addressing the key priority outlined in the Public Health England document. It begins by introducing the topic and providing a rationale for the focus on Southwark. The report then delves into the issues specific to the London locality, identifying determinants of health, exploring the impact of inequality, and outlining the challenges in meeting the priority. It describes current interventions within Southwark, highlighting lifestyle choices' impact. The core of the report provides a critical review of inter-professional working in tackling childhood obesity. It explores the concept of inter-professional collaboration in contemporary health and social care, evaluating the advantages and disadvantages using relevant literature. The report also examines national policies related to inter-professional working and discusses their application within Southwark, including the factors that apply and how these are linked. The report concludes with a summary of findings and potential recommendations for improving health outcomes in the borough.

Running head: OBESITY
Tackling Obesity particularly among children in Southwark Borough of London
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Outline........................................................................................................................................3
Issues of London Locality..........................................................................................................3
Critical review............................................................................................................................6
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
Reference..................................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
Obesity is a medical condition where in a person gains excessive weight, which has a
great impact in the life of the person. Obesity is considered as increase in the body Mass
index of a person. According to the Public Health England there has been initiatives taken up
by the Southwark Brought Council can bring changes in the body of the person that may lead
to various health conditions. According to Wadden and Bray (2018), two most common
condition of obesity is excess intake of food lack of physical activity or genetic susceptibility.
However, obesity is controllable and can improve the health condition with the reduction of
weight. Various initiatives have been taken up by the Public Health England to brining in
changes in the life of children by providing children with efficient
Fig 1: Demonstration of the growth of Obese in UK
(Source: gov.uk, 2020)
The most scaring fact about obesity is that it has been widely affecting children below
the age of 16 in the United Kingdom. Childhood obesity can be very risky that can lead to

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diabetes high blood pressure and high cholesterol in the children.it is high time that United
kingdom must look into the issue of children obesity and educate people that will help in
reduction of weight and take initiatives to be fit (Obesity Collaborators, 2017). Changes in
the lifestyle of the children special due to working parents is one of the greatest reason of
preference more fast foods and junk foods that is prime cause of obesity for children in UK.
Fig 2: Child obesity
(Source: Skinner et al. 2018)
Outline
The Public Health England of has been ensuring better and effective development in
the life of the people for long term. Obesity is one of the greatest global issues that has been
faced by the people affecting the determinants of health of the population. The paper will be
relating to the London Brought of Southwark and its initiatives taken to tackle obesity
especially among children. In England, 56% of adults and 43% of children are facing the
issue of obesity. Hence, it has turned to be one of the greatest social issues that are being
faced by the people of England as well as the root to various other health problems like
diabetes and heart issues.

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Issues of London Locality
According to WHO various factors that has been affecting our health; however, the three
main determinants of health are:
 The social and economic environment: The social and economic environment is a
great factor that affects the health of a person. With the development of economy of a
person there is greater care taken by the person. According to Heymsfield and
Wadden (2017), people from economically backward classes are unable to take care
of your health due to various economic conditions that they cannot afford.
 The physical environment: Physical environment it means clean water clean air
healthy workplace safety houses and communities. However, economic condition is
one of the main factor that has a great impact in the physical environment. Low
economic conditions me people choose to stay in dirty areas that have a great impact
on the health condition of the people.
 The person's individual characteristics and behaviour: The person's individual
characteristics and behaviour is a great factor considering obesity. According to
Saltiel and Olefsky (2017), obesity is the prime reason of intake of a large amount of
food compared to normal food habits. Hence, the person’s individual characteristics
and behaviours make the person bound to consume more calories food leading to
obesity.
The economic condition of the people of UK especially of Borough is quite stable and
has a high disposable rate of income. With the high economic growth, people easily choose
more number of fried or junk foods that are high in calories. How were people those were
economic backward could not afford to take care of their health that leads to various other
diseases. His economy is a great factor that has been deteriorating the condition of people in
Borough.

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The main challenges that has been identified in case of obesity of children in Borough
by the Southwark council is the awareness among people about obesity. The following has
been identified from the consensus of Southwark Borough that the following are some of the
challenges for the council to bring in changes among people to develop better and healthy
life:
 Commitment: People are very committed to their regular life and discipline and
bringing changes in the life becomes very difficult especially in case of bringing
healthy changes in their life. It becomes difficult for adults to bring changes in their
daily lifestyle where is it turns to be very challenging for children to bring changes.
Changes in the lifestyle of the children will not only be affecting in the life of the
parents but also in the life of the family members.
 Identifying the cause: In order to ensure better lifestyle it is necessary to identify the
cause of obesity (Singer and Lumeng 2017). They can the various causes of obesity
such as hormonal changes, changes in the food habits, changes in the lifestyle and
inappropriate consuming habits. It becomes a great challenge to identify the causes
that are causing obesity for children. It is the growing period of children identification
of the cause of obesity becomes difficult.
Children health of a country is a very important factor as they are future of the country.
Various strategies and initiatives have been taken up by Southwark Council to improve the
health condition of obese children in UK. The following a few of the factors that will help in
understanding the initiative that has been taken by the Southwark council to develop health
condition of children:
Campaign

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Various non-government organisations of UK have been taking initiatives in Borough
to campaign about obesity. According to Bray, Kim, Wilding and World Obesity Federation
(2017), campaigns have been a great impact full initiative that has been taken by the
government of UK to bring in changes in the lifestyle of people. It has been observed by that
with campaigns there has been great development in the changes of lifestyle of the people.
Developing strategies that will help in development of the health of the child and making
them more active is another initiative that has been taken up by the Southwark council to
make people health conscious.
Regular healthcare check-up in schools
The Southwark council has ensure that every school must take up initiatives to
develop healthcare check-ups for children's on a regular basis. This will keep a track of the
BMI of the children and steps can be taken as early as possible.
Introduction of various activities in school curriculum
The Southwark council has ensured, various activities introduced in schools. This will
help in keeping the children's active during the curriculum (Deng et al. 2016). Hence, there
will be development of fitness. This will not only help in bringing changes in their physical
but also in their mental health making it active and easy to concentrate.
Special meeting with parents
It is necessary that the parents must be educated about the health condition of
children. Making parents aware of the healthy and unhealthy food will help in in preventing
children from consuming different kinds of food. Moreover, when periods will be aware they
will ensure that the children's live a healthy life with activities and changes in their lazy
lifestyle.

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Hence, the Southwark council has been promoting healthy lifestyle with the help of
schools. It was making people aware of the calories they are consuming on a daily basis. This
is one of the prime challenge of Southwark council. Cutting down of calories is very
necessary in order to improve lifestyle and health of obese child (Furukawa et al. 2017).
Another issue that is being faced while campaigning is that parents are confused what
nutritious food should be provided to children that will not lead to obesity.
Critical review
The inter-professional working means the collaboration between the nurses and
important people such as patients’ family or care givers communicate with each other to
ensure your better health service to the patient (Wilson and Soni 2016). The Southwark
council considered it to be the goal that can bring in changes in the partnership, practice,
health literacy and make people grow their cultural awareness. While under observation, the
nurses and the doctors ensure that the patient is being provided with all the facilities required.
On the other hand, while being discharged the nurses and the doctors ensure that the family is
well aware of the condition of the patient and provide them with efficient care that will help
in the improvement of the person. According to Xyrichis, Reeves and Zwarenstein (2018), to
enter professional working is a major aspect in medical science that has brought changes in
the life of patients ensuring better and effective care. It has been observed by researchers that
patients recovered easily in a familiar environment rather than in hospitals. Hence the inter-
professional collaboration an initiative that is being taken up by medical science to help
effectively develop a patient in their familiar environments. The inter-professional
collaboration has been developed by the medical science to aim mainly in three aspects.
Improvement of the patient satisfaction and experience, improvement of the help as well as
reducing the cost of the family. The professional caregivers such as the doctors and the
nurses’ work in partnership with the family caregivers like the family of the patient to ensure

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that the patient is effectively developing (Jia, Xue, Cheng and Wang 2019). Moreover, they
are not efficient staff who will be taking care of the patient for prolonged period. Hence,
inter-professional collaboration has been developed to provide with effective service to the
patient.
The Southwark council considered that the community must take initiatives that will help in
the development of the health issues. Collaboration with families to improve child healthcare
will reduce the number of child obesity rate in London. There has been initiatives taken up by
the Southwark council to ensure better and effective health care to be provided to the children
along with families and school authority. The government of UK has developed various
policies and strategies that will help in the development of the children suffering from
obesity. The following are the advantages of inter professional working:
Improve patient care and outcomes
With inter-professional working, the patient will be provided with efficient services
and care along with medication in their own house. Moreover, the patients will feel free to
move around and live a normal life.
Improvement in effective service
It has been observed by Ribeiro, Santos, Vieira and Barros (2019), there has been
great changes in the health of the people with the development of inter-professional health
care provided to the patients.
Improve relationship with the staff and job satisfaction
This helps in the improvement of the relationship with the nurses and the family
members of the patient. This helps them to develop reliance open the family members as well
as the nurses, which helps in job satisfaction.

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Reduce in efficiency and healthcare costs
With inter-professional collaboration there will be improvement in the efficiency as
well as reduce the cost of the patients family in taking care of the patient. Bearing the cost of
hospital is often stressful for various families.
The following are the disadvantages of inter-professional working:
Lack of respect or trust
This can lead to lack of respect or trust among the nurses or to family members in
case of any wrong medication provided (Sharifi et al. 2016).
Lack of alignment around goals
Making the family understand about the goals is often difficult, as they will not be
working with all the equipment that the medical staff will be walking with.
Inability to provide the patients right service
It has been observed that the children those who are economically backward are not
provided with the best service that can help in brining changes in the life of the people. More
efficient and effective development of inter-professional development that will help in
bringing changes in the life of the people.
Different mind set
There will be difference in the mind-set of the patient's family as well as a staff
member who will be providing care to the patient. The method of providing care will be
different for both the groups.
The inter-professional working is being recommended by public health of England
that looks after the health of the people of England. With insurance wellbeing and better care

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is being provided to every patient. According to Marjanen, Spolander and Aulanko (2018),
the Public Health England, a child suffering from obesity may have various risks. The family
that will help in the development of the child must take initiatives. There are various chances
of heart issues, high blood pressure, or any chronic disease. According to Opeyemi (2016),
the Public Health England, the professional caregivers for the doctors of the nurses can
provide the patient with amount or calories to be consumed within a day by the child.
However, it is the responsibility of the family order parents to ensure that the child is being
provided with the right amount of food instead of junk food or fast foods. In the case of
obesity, it becomes difficult for the professional caregivers to keep a strict check on the
patients. Professional caregivers can provide the children with supplements or multivitamins
that will help them to be strong and energetic throughout the day. The supplements will help
to meet the need of the body's nutrients. However, it is the responsibility of the periods to
ensure that the child is being provided with the supplements and food at right time (Gibson
2016). The professionals will also ensure with various kinds of working activities, or cardio
that will help in reducing the weight or burning fats. In the case of obesity, the Southwark
council encourages inter-professional working.
It has been discussed earlier; the life of people in Borough, England is very different
from the lifestyle of other parts of the country. People there are mostly of rich class families
and need a busy lifestyle. It becomes difficult for parents to ensure that the child is being
provided with adequate nutrients throughout the day and lead a healthy lifestyle (Flint,
Hudson and Lavallee 2016). Most of the children's are being sent to the schools where in the
spent their entire day studying on doing other activities like playing. People of this region can
effectively use the inter-professional working by gathering adequate knowledge from doctors
(Hudda et al. 2019). If the parents are, unable to provide the child with effective time they
can develop our schedule or a diet chart prescribed by the doctor and ensure the day schools

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to provide them with respective food. This will help in keeping the child fit as well as will be
following the necessary needs to meet their requirements. Moreover, for children those who
do not visit this school can also be provided with the above-mentioned schedule. The mother
of the caregiver who is present at home with the child can ensure that the child is being
provided with efficient nutritious diet throughout the day (Lloyd et al. 2018). This can be also
improved by pre planning the food that will be provided to the child the next day. Parents can
take initiatives to develop that chart for the children that will be filled with a liquid nutrients
as well as feeling foods.
According to Young, Subramanian and Hinnant (2016), it has been observed that
there has been great changes in the parents of children suffering from obesity with inter-
professional collaboration. They have been taking initiative to ensure that the child is being
provided with nutritious diet and supplements that will help in meeting the need of the child.
According to Mulderrig (2017), parents have been pre-planning their children's diet 1 week
prior or would prescribe from dieticians. They would also ensure that their children are being
regularly taken to physicians to keep a check on their weight or body mass index. Regular
check on their body mass index will help to understand the decrease or increase in the fat in
their body. This will help in in maintaining fitness of the child. According to Mulderrig
(2017), doctors prescribe that children should be provided with all sorts of food. Hence
providing them with fast food or junk food within 15 days may not be as harmful as
consumption of junk food daily. This will act as a motivation for children that will keep them
to follow their diet for the entire 15 days. According to a survey has been proved to meet the
means of the child with inter professional collaboration (Chagoury et al. 2018). Parents
sometimes are unable to understand what are the best food to be provided to the children.
With prescription of doctor they can get a clear view of the necessities of the children that

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will help in providing the child with effective and efficient food that they require for the
entire day.
Conclusion
Childhood obesity is the greatest issue that the world has been facing since last
decade. Especially in UK there has been a large number of children consuming excess
amount of fast foods especially fight foods like French fries on nuggets. Consumption of
foods like ice cream and noodles are very harmful for children on a regular basis. Parents
must understand what are the best food to be provided to the children that will help in the
development and the memory growth of the child. According to Public Health England
excess amount of right foods or fast foods reduce the speed of memory development making
a person lazy or sluggish. The Public Health England has taken initiatives to develop
strategies that will help in making people fit. Various NGOs have been campaigning
throughout the country about obesity and making people aware of its consequences. The
excess amount of sugar intake also leads to obesity. Understanding various factors that may
lead to obesity parents must introduce activities such as jogging swimming walking running
or dancing in the regularity of the children. Investing time in in activities like jogging
swimming walking running or dancing will also help in the psychological development of the
child. In spite of spending a lot of time, sitting and sleeping children must be active and
spotting. To develop the activities and sporting names of the children there has been
curriculum development that ensures that the child will actively perform in any of the
activities that is being taken in the school. To conclude obesity is one of the greatest health
risk in factors that money to various chronicle diseases like heart attack cancer or high blood
pressure or sugar. The Southwark council has developed various strategies and policies that
will be enduring better and effective development in the life of the children ensuring effective
measures are being taken for children of economically backward classes.

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