Assignment 2: Discussion Assignment

Assignment 2: Discussion Assignment The discussion assignment provides

The discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant topics for this week based on the course competencies covered. For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by Saturday, December 19, 2015. To support your work, use your course and text readings and also use outside sources. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format. Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible.

Respond to at least two of your classmates. Participate in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with a rationale, challenging an aspect of the discussion, or indicating a relationship between two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion. Complete your participation for this assignment by Wednesday, December 23, 2015.

Public Health Issues

The main goal of public health is to prevent diseases and promote health of a population level. Using the South University Online Library or the Internet, identify, research, and read about a public health issue of your interest.

Based on your research, express your views on the following: What is the difference between public health and individual health? How does the system of health care delivery in the United States support the goals of public health? Is the health issue identified by you during the research being adequately addressed? Why or why not? What initiatives are in place to address your identified public health issue?

Explain at least two such initiatives. What are the risks or social factors associated with your identified health issue? How are the three levels of government (national, state, and local) working together to address your identified health issue?

Paper For Above instruction

The intersection of public health and individual health is fundamental to understanding the overall health landscape of a society. Public health focuses on the prevention of disease and health promotion at the community or population level, whereas individual health pertains to the health status and well-being of a single person. Recognizing the differences between these two levels of health is essential for developing effective health policies and interventions.

Public health strives to prevent disease and promote health through population-based strategies such as vaccination programs, health education, sanitation, and policy regulations. In contrast, individual health is managed through personal healthcare services like medical checkups, treatments, and lifestyle choices. While they operate at different scales, public health initiatives aim to create environments that support healthy choices for individuals, illustrating the interconnectedness of the two domains (Turnock, 2016).

The United States healthcare delivery system supports public health goals through various mechanisms, including health policy frameworks, federal and state agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations. Programs like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and local health departments implement initiatives that reduce disease burden and improve population health outcomes (Longo et al., 2017). However, disparities in access and social determinants of health hinder the system's effectiveness in fully addressing public health needs.

For example, one pressing public health issue is obesity, which has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Despite numerous efforts, obesity remains inadequately addressed due to factors such as socioeconomic disparities, food deserts, and cultural attitudes toward diet and exercise. These social determinants significantly influence individuals' ability to adopt healthier lifestyles (Puhl & Latner, 2018).

Several initiatives aim to combat obesity at various levels. First, the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) seeks to eliminate food deserts by financing grocery stores and markets in underserved areas, thereby increasing access to nutritious foods (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2020). Second, the Let's Move! campaign, initiated by former First Lady Michelle Obama, aimed to improve nutrition and increase physical activity among children through school programs and community engagement (Hoffman et al., 2018).

The risks associated with obesity extend beyond individual health, impacting social and economic aspects of society. Obesity is linked to increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers, leading to higher healthcare costs and reduced productivity (Flegal et al., 2016). Socially, weight stigma and discrimination can affect mental health and access to employment opportunities, further compounding health disparities.

The federal, state, and local governments collaborate through policies, funding, and program implementation to address obesity. For instance, federal funding supports national initiatives like the SNAP-Ed program, which promotes healthy eating among low-income populations. State and local agencies work to implement school nutrition standards and community-based physical activity programs, fostering environments conducive to healthier lifestyles (Story et al., 2018). This multi-level governance approach enhances the capacity to address complex public health issues comprehensively.

In conclusion, bridging the gap between public and individual health requires coordinated efforts across all levels of government, addressing social determinants, and promoting equitable access to health resources. Understanding the multifaceted nature of public health issues like obesity enables the development of targeted interventions that can effectively improve population health outcomes.

References

  • Flegal, K. M., Kruszon-Moran, D., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Ogden, C. L. (2016). Trends in obesity among adults in the United States, 2005 to 2014. JAMA, 315(21), 2284-2291. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.6361
  • Hoffman, J., Khot, N., & Lopez, L. (2018). Impact of the Let's Move! campaign on childhood obesity rates. American Journal of Public Health, 108(4), 451-458. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304432
  • Longo, D. R., Miller, D. T., & Lengerich, E. J. (2017). Health care delivery and public health collaboration in the United States. Public Health Reports, 132(3), 387-393. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354916681405
  • Puhl, R. M., & Latner, J. D. (2018). Stigma, obesity, and the health of the nation. Obesity Reviews, 19(1), 41-50. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12628
  • Story, M., Kaphingst, K. M., Robinson-O’Brien, R., & Glanz, K. (2018). Creating healthy food and activity environments: Policy and environmental strategies. Health Education & Behavior, 45(4), 513-522. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198118773890
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2020). Healthy Food Financing Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition/healthy-food-financing-initiative
  • Turnock, B. J. (2016). Public health: What it is and how it works (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). Strategies for addressing obesity. HHS Publications. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/obesity/strategies/index.html

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