Today's topic deals with my continuance of the final paper. Honestly, I think the paper is going to be a little more complicated from my original thoughts. As I finally decided my final topic, I realize that the requirements for this paper are a little time consuming and slightly confusing.
I decided to discuss the issue of obesity in adults 18 and over in Michigan, considering that's home and I have visual data for my paper. As far as surveillance goes on regards to obesity, I think that hospital records could be a source. If adults are going to the doctor on account of health issues and they appear overweight obesity could be present. According to an obesity report series for Michigan in 2008, obesity rates rose by 21.8% which is not good. Especially considering only 34.7% of Michigan adults were not overweight or obese. Michigan also had the 8th highest prevalence of obesity in the US with 30.1% in 2008. In addition to obesity being a huge issue in Michigan, it's more significant in the African American community; especially in African American females.
Direct indicators that deal with adult obesity in Michigan are the high rates of adults who eat fast food. As discussed in class, fast food is very unhealthy and depending on what restaurant people eat at, their calorie intake is extremely high. Also a direct indicator could be adults with an office setting job who eat "snacks" all day in substitution for lunch. I have friends and a few family members who work in these environments and they feel as though a quick bag of chips makes up for their daily lunch. Many adults feel as though they don't have to follow a healthy lifestyle and they can eat whatever they please, because they are "grown". In Detroit, fresh produce is limited and fast food restaurants are numerous. If there are a limited amount of resources for fruits and vegetables, how can people eat healthy.
Indirect indicators could be the amount of fast food restaurants that surround the homes of obese individuals. From personal experience, I can testify that these fast food places are everywhere; many in walking distance. There have been times when my family and I didn't feel like cooking and I drove about a mile or so to pick up pizza. We knew it wasn't healthy, but when you are hungry and fast food is at your finger tips, what do you do? Another indicator could be the mental health issues. Some people were not born to obtain an obese body, but some people suffer from depression and eating "helps" to temporarily satisfy their needs.
I know that these indicators are not the best especially considering many of them come from personal experiences and "he/she said". I do believe that my opinions and semi-facts matter in this paper because I am personally affected by obesity with close friends and a few family members of mine. Also, a lot of the data that I've looked up is from 2001-2009. Sure 2009 is the most recent, the further I go back into the past the numbers are normally relatively low.
Well, as I researched adult obesity, I found a lot of information on childhood obesity in Michigan. I think I may put the two together and focus on family issues too, that may result in obesity.
Until next time, stay healthy!!
Kiara
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Problem Definition
Today's topic will focus on my problem definition for my final paper. I honestly still have not decided in my final topic yet, but I will make a final decision this weekend. As far as my problem definitions, I have a possible definition for the three topics I am debating on.
My problem definition for obesity would go some what as follows:
Obesity has become a huge problem in the United States and a rising epidemic in children ages 6-19 from 1999-2009. This issue has become so severe that it has been detected to decrease the life expectancy of children by 5 years.
My problem definition for injury prevention would be similar to this:
Noticing the obvious is sometimes an issue in the United States. Things that are most common, just seem normal, especially with injury prevention. A rising problem in injury prevention deals with children. We need to make the world a safer place for children without limiting their environment.
Lastly, I think if I were to write about health care, I would focus on quality health care for low income families. My problem statement would fall somewhere around:
Families that "make too much" money, or don't qualify under the federal poverty level, have a harder time receiving quality health care. In the United States, quality health care is not "equal" for everyone. Low income families whose income exceeds the federal poverty level due to more or less people who live in their homes, have more problems with health care.
Unitl next time, stay healthy!
Kiara
My problem definition for obesity would go some what as follows:
Obesity has become a huge problem in the United States and a rising epidemic in children ages 6-19 from 1999-2009. This issue has become so severe that it has been detected to decrease the life expectancy of children by 5 years.
My problem definition for injury prevention would be similar to this:
Noticing the obvious is sometimes an issue in the United States. Things that are most common, just seem normal, especially with injury prevention. A rising problem in injury prevention deals with children. We need to make the world a safer place for children without limiting their environment.
Lastly, I think if I were to write about health care, I would focus on quality health care for low income families. My problem statement would fall somewhere around:
Families that "make too much" money, or don't qualify under the federal poverty level, have a harder time receiving quality health care. In the United States, quality health care is not "equal" for everyone. Low income families whose income exceeds the federal poverty level due to more or less people who live in their homes, have more problems with health care.
Unitl next time, stay healthy!
Kiara
Friday, April 9, 2010
My Final Paper For Public Health
Today's topic focuses on my final paper topic for Intro. to Public Health. I have honestly enjoyed this course so much, that it's really hard for me to pick one topic. As of now, I am a little undecided. Since time is running out, I am going to pick between the following topics: Injury Prevention, Obesity, or the US Health Care System. I think these three topics grasped my attention the most.
The reason why I liked injury prevention so much is because it's a serious issue in public health. A lot of people believe that injuries are accidents, and that's true, but in most cases these injuries can be prevented. Unintentional injuries account for 2/3 of the injuries in the country. These injuries are almost 80% of the years of potential life loss chart. Considering the US spends so much money, $406 Billion, on injuries I though it would be a interesting topic. Also, I found the different types of injuries to be very interesting. Injury is a population level problem and this problem is not obvious.
The lecture that focused on obesity by Dr. Kahan had my undivided attention. Although I paid close attention to every lecture, obesity was the most interesting. I would like to write about obesity, because I have close friends, family as well as friends of my family that are obese. This particular topic hit close to home for me, and I felt it was necessary to find out more about why and how this epidemic is growing so rapidly in America. Obesity in the US is rising every year. Based on information provided in lecture, 1 out of every 3 Americans are clinically obese, and 68% of people are overweight. Being obese increases the chance of a shorter life span as well as the increase in risk of death and also increasing the chances of type2 diabetes. While in class I was informed that obesity rates in children has sky rocketed since the 1980s which isn't a good thing. Considering the life expectancy for the generation now and the one after will decrease significantly.
Lastly, I thought about health care in the US. I've expressed my thoughts on the US health care system in my previous blog postings. But I cant emphasize how much health care means to me. I want to make a difference in the world by becoming a cardiac surgeon, but I cant help everyone who needs it because the lack of quality health care in the US. I didn't realize how many people were uninsured in America and it really brings tears to my eyes knowing that all the sick people in the US cant be healed or treated.
I really took these three topics to heart mainly because they either hit home really hard or for the simple fact that I really care about improving these things in the population.
Until next time, stay healthy.
Kiara
The reason why I liked injury prevention so much is because it's a serious issue in public health. A lot of people believe that injuries are accidents, and that's true, but in most cases these injuries can be prevented. Unintentional injuries account for 2/3 of the injuries in the country. These injuries are almost 80% of the years of potential life loss chart. Considering the US spends so much money, $406 Billion, on injuries I though it would be a interesting topic. Also, I found the different types of injuries to be very interesting. Injury is a population level problem and this problem is not obvious.
The lecture that focused on obesity by Dr. Kahan had my undivided attention. Although I paid close attention to every lecture, obesity was the most interesting. I would like to write about obesity, because I have close friends, family as well as friends of my family that are obese. This particular topic hit close to home for me, and I felt it was necessary to find out more about why and how this epidemic is growing so rapidly in America. Obesity in the US is rising every year. Based on information provided in lecture, 1 out of every 3 Americans are clinically obese, and 68% of people are overweight. Being obese increases the chance of a shorter life span as well as the increase in risk of death and also increasing the chances of type2 diabetes. While in class I was informed that obesity rates in children has sky rocketed since the 1980s which isn't a good thing. Considering the life expectancy for the generation now and the one after will decrease significantly.
Lastly, I thought about health care in the US. I've expressed my thoughts on the US health care system in my previous blog postings. But I cant emphasize how much health care means to me. I want to make a difference in the world by becoming a cardiac surgeon, but I cant help everyone who needs it because the lack of quality health care in the US. I didn't realize how many people were uninsured in America and it really brings tears to my eyes knowing that all the sick people in the US cant be healed or treated.
I really took these three topics to heart mainly because they either hit home really hard or for the simple fact that I really care about improving these things in the population.
Until next time, stay healthy.
Kiara
Friday, April 2, 2010
My Public Health Experience
Today's topic focuses on my perspective of the first "half" of my Intro. to Public Health course. Throughout the course we discussed a variety of topics ranging from what public health is and health policy and worked our way to obesity. I honestly enjoyed each topic because there was so much information that I never knew. Each class discussion taught me something new, and although there were a few things I did know, learning the information a second was refreshing. My favorite class discussions were the ones that focused on health care and obesity. Based on the information we learned these are two of the biggest issues public health is facing. I enjoyed the health care lecture, because I have a sincere concern for the public. I love to help people and I really want to make a difference in the health field, and this cannot be done without access to quality health care. To think that there's a mother out in the world who doesn't have quality health care which means she has no access to vitamins and medicines needed during her pregnancy really gets to me. While in class, we talked about other countries having health care for their citizens yet they don't spend as much money as the US annually on health care. In the US 47 million uninsured Americans and yet we spend trillions of dollars on health care, all the while the rates continue to rise. As far as obesity being one of favorites, I really enjoyed learning about healthy eating, how pricing is associated with the government and how being overweight and/or clinically obese is harmful to our bodies.
One thing I found surprising about public health is that we spend more money than other countries combined but we have so many uninsured Americans. I could not believe it! I thought we were in better standings in terms health care. We have a numerous amount of doctors, physicians, and health care workers, there's no way our health care system is this bad. Right? No wrong. Considering these health care workers have to be paid, and since people are uninsured there is the problem. There is a big problem with health insurance and money for US citizens.
When I signed up for this public health course I wanted to learn more about the health care field and I did. Nothing has changed about my perception in regards to the public health field. If anything I am more interested into going further into the public health aspect as well as being a hearth surgeon. Taking this course has really opened my eyes to the public health field. I think that this course has made me more aware of issues the public faces and I am really interested in making a difference in the near future. I really am glad I took this course and I look forward to the other public health courses I will take while continuing my education here at Hopkins.
Until next time, stay healthy!
Kiara
One thing I found surprising about public health is that we spend more money than other countries combined but we have so many uninsured Americans. I could not believe it! I thought we were in better standings in terms health care. We have a numerous amount of doctors, physicians, and health care workers, there's no way our health care system is this bad. Right? No wrong. Considering these health care workers have to be paid, and since people are uninsured there is the problem. There is a big problem with health insurance and money for US citizens.
When I signed up for this public health course I wanted to learn more about the health care field and I did. Nothing has changed about my perception in regards to the public health field. If anything I am more interested into going further into the public health aspect as well as being a hearth surgeon. Taking this course has really opened my eyes to the public health field. I think that this course has made me more aware of issues the public faces and I am really interested in making a difference in the near future. I really am glad I took this course and I look forward to the other public health courses I will take while continuing my education here at Hopkins.
Until next time, stay healthy!
Kiara
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)