A Planetary Health Issue Among Young Adults Assignment Sample

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Introduction-A Planetary Health Issue Among Young Adults

“Rising Prevalence of Obesity in 18-30 Years”

Obesity is delineated as an extreme accumulation of fat within body. Body Mass Index [BMI] decides whether an individual is obese or not, BMI exceeding 25 proves to be overweight while over 30 it is considered as obese (WHO, 2023).

This condition has become a substantial global health concern, especially among young adults aged 18-30 years (Haththotuwa, Wijeyaratne and Senarath, 2020). Lifestyle changes, including increased consumption of junk food and reduced physical activity, contribute significantly to the rising obesity prevalence. The impact of obesity goes beyond individual health, burdening healthcare systems, affecting environments, and influencing societies worldwide. This assignment focuses on raising awareness among young adults about how various political, social, economic, and environmental factors contribute to obesity and its complications. For students tackling complex health topics like this, assignment writing help offers essential guidance to organize research, analyze interconnected factors, and present coherent arguments effectively, leading to a better understanding of both personal choices and global health outcomes.

A Planetary Health Issue Among Young Adults Assignment Sample

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Concept of health

Health is explicated as that state which is influenced due to varied factors that are concerned with political fluctuations, social components, environmental circumstances and economic practices. In accordance with World Health Organisation [WHO] health is determined as an effective state in composed of mental, physical and social well-being and absence of any kind of disease (WHO, 2023). This definition sheds light on the holistic care as it is covering each of the domain such as social, mental and physical aspects.

The Social Determinants of Health [SDOH] performing a pivotal role in increasing extent of obesity cases specifically in young adults. Due to lack of access towards nutritious food individuals are not able to eat a well-balanced diet (Shekar and Popkin, 2020). Poor people are not able to afford nutritious-enriched food and this is highlighting about the socio-economic factors which is impacting individuals’ health. Another SDOH component aligns with education, lack of awareness in people regarding importance of physical exercise and eating healthy food is also leading to obesity cases (Shekar and Popkin, 2020). It is important to focus on the social components such as lack of access, education and so on components that are leading to obesity.

Political elements associates with food marketing regulations and public health policies that results in shaping individual perception and promotes in developing healthy environment. This results in implementation of choices related to food and exercise. For example- “Tackling Obesity” empowering adults and children to live healthier lives” is the prevention policy of obesity undertaken in UK. This policy led to reduce the cases of obesity within UK by developing awareness in public regarding obesity (Tackling Obesity, 2023). Moreover, environmental factor such as urban infrastructure is reducing the extent of physical activities and economic activities such as charging less price for junk food and increasing disparity in healthcare services creating obesity cases.

Planetary Health, Global Health and One Health

Planetary health focusing on implementing interconnectedness between human health and health of the planet. It focuses on witnessing environmental degradation that is adversely impacting human health. For instance- unsustainable agriculture practices and producing nutritious-deficit food are directly contributing in obesity cases (Alice et al, 2022). On the other hand, Global Health is concerned with all those health issues which has crossed national boundaries and requires international support (Safaei et al, 2021). The primary focus within global health is implied on promoting health equity and taking collective actions in order to address health challenges. However, this approach assures significant focus on communicable disease but, in current era the emphasis has been shift onto non-communicable disease [NCDs] such as obesity within global level. The statistical estimation revealed that 2.3 billion children and adult population suffering with obesity (World Heart Federation, 2023). This clearly signifies that obesity has become a significant concern.

One health refers to multidisciplinary approach which focuses on addressing different connections existing among humans, environment and animals. The belief of one health states that health of humans is directly linked with environment and ecosystem. Therefore, collaborative effort should be implemented for managing and tackling health risks. Thus, it can be said that each of the framework is addressing significant aspects of health (Swinburn et al, 2022). The planetary health effectively focuses on sustainability aspects that is linked with human health outcomes. This proves to be relevant in context of current health issue which is obesity in young adults. Human health and planet health are linked with each other and thereby, it is important to protect planet health by taking appropriate actions and this directly contributes in improving human health.

Health Relevant Topic

Obesity is becoming significant issue in young adults; this is impacting their overall well-being along with developing severe health risks. From the statistical estimation it has been witnessed that approximately 2.3 billion adults are overweight and obese, this estimation is clearly depicting about specific attention requires to be implemented on obesity cases (WHO, 2023). Increase in fast-food consumption and sedentary lifestyle contributing in increasing obesity cases (Albury et al, 2020). Furthermore, reduction is physical exercise and spending too much time in front of screen also contributing in obesity cases. However, government policies related to food production and marketing developed significant influence within society. In case of young adults, marketing is significant cause contributing in the cases of obesity as it influences them to greater extent (Albury et al, 2020).

In economic context, disparities among different groups of society developing significant barriers in accessing healthy food. Further, it is influencing younger adults to buy high-calorie food due to their lower prices. Particularly, low-income groups and communities have lack of support in terms of approaching nutritious food options (WHO, 2023). This situation is clearly signifying about the connection exists among social, economic, political and environmental components. The World Health Assembly Global Nutrition targeting two main aspects that are concerned with increasing nutritious diet and increasing extent of physical activity for young people (WHO, 2023). However, these two targeting measures are facing varied hurdles due to existing socio-economic complications. There is need to focus on solving root causes such as issues leading to health disparities and contributing in obesity. In this manner, significant actions can be taken and effectual results could be gain.

Assessing key challenges

Obesity highlighting consistent challenges for individuals and broader communities, obesity can result in severe health issues such as Type 2 Diabetes [T2D], hypertension and heart complications which subsequently impacts quality of life of people (Abu-Shawish et al, 2022). Moreover, findings have shown that stigma aligns with obesity creates drastic impact on the mental well-being of young adults and this can result in issues such as depression, anxiety specially in vulnerable groups. The socioeconomic differences develop consistent issues for young adults belongs from lower-income group. Lack of access towards healthcare services and lack of awareness regarding healthy routine developing significant barriers for this group.

The ineffective management within healthcare system has been also developing persistent issues in this area and increasing the cases of obesity. This is leading to develop major challenge in varied nations specially in developing countries in order to address these challenges it is important to adopt a multi-faceted approach that associates with undertaking change in food policy, health education and other domains that are impacting certain groups and vulnerable populations (Abu-Shawish et al, 2022). In this manner, effectual outcomes can be taken and consistent support could be ensured to people and accordingly, planetary well-being can be enhanced.

Link to sustainable development goals [SDGs]

Obesity is interconnected with varied Sustainable Developmental Goals [SDGs]. Considering SDG 2 “Zero Hunger” this can be said that this goal aims to addressing issues related to accessing food and dietary quality which proves to be crucial in combating obesity (Ralston, Cooper and Powis, 2021). Thus, effective agricultural practices can support in focusing on the production of sustainable and healthy food which is important for achieving this goal.

SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-Being targeting the prevention and treatment procedure of all the non-communicable disease that also involve obesity (Ralston, Cooper and Powis, 2021). Thus, by focusing on preventive measures healthcare costs can be reduced which lead to contribute in enhancing overall well-being of populations.

SDG 10 “Reduced inequalities” focuses on the socioeconomic disparities, the aim of this goal is to reduce the extent of discrimination faced by certain groups within society. Inequalities within health develops due to multiple factors that involves access towards healthcare services, healthy food and physical activity (Fanzo et al, 2022). SDG-10 is targeting all of these components so that effective health outcomes can be gained.

SDG 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” focusing on the promotion of sustainable production processes and this further emphasis on encouraging healthier food system that can support in solving the issues related to obesity (World Health Organization, 2023).

Thus, by linking obesity with SDGs, a coordinated approach can be recognised within considering health in context of social, economic, political and environmental dynamics. Hence, achieving these goals by the year 2030 will need collective effort which is essential for reshaping societal views related to healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion

Obesity among young adults is an emerging planetary health complexity which often impacted due to countless environmental, political, social and economic factors. By developing an in-depth understanding related to connected elements significant approaches can be implied that are aiming to alleviate obesity issues within advancing SDGs. It is essential to take collective actions that influence policymakers for taking important actions related to reducing the prices of nutritious food. Thus, by emphasising on different factors that are highlighted in the above blog a collaborative approach can be formed that supports in taking appropriate actions and further contributes in enhancing well-being of people.

References

Books and Journals

• Abu-Shawish, G., Betsy, J. and Anil, S., 2022. Is obesity a risk factor for periodontal disease in adults? A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), p.12684.
• Albury, C., Strain, W.D., Le Brocq, S., Logue, J., Lloyd, C. and Tahrani, A., 2020. The importance of language in engagement between health-care professionals and people living with obesity: a joint consensus statement. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 8(5), pp.447-455.
• Alice, A., Yadav, M., Verma, R., Kumari, M. and Arora, S., 2022. Effect of obesity on balance: A literature review. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S4), pp.3261-3279.
• Fanzo, J., Rudie, C., Sigman, I., Grinspoon, S., Benton, T.G., Brown, M.E., Covic, N., Fitch, K., Golden, C.D., Grace, D. and Hivert, M.F., 2022. Sustainable food systems and nutrition in the 21st century: A report from the 22nd annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 115(1), pp.18-33.
• Haththotuwa, R.N., Wijeyaratne, C.N. and Senarath, U., 2020. Worldwide epidemic of obesity. In Obesity and obstetrics (pp. 3-8). Elsevier.
• Ralston, J., Cooper, K. and Powis, J., 2021. Obesity, SDGs and ROOTS: a framework for impact. Current Obesity Reports, 10, pp.54-60.
• Safaei, M., Sundararajan, E.A., Driss, M., Boulila, W. and Shapi'i, A., 2021. A systematic literature review on obesity: Understanding the causes & consequences of obesity and reviewing various machine learning approaches used to predict obesity. Computers in biology and medicine, 136, p.104754.
• Shekar, M. and Popkin, B. eds., 2020. Obesity: health and economic consequences of an impending global challenge. World Bank Publications.
• Swinburn, B., Hovmand, P., Waterlander, W. and Allender, S., 2022. The global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change. Clinical obesity in adults and children, pp.409-427.
• World Health Organization, 2023. WHO acceleration plan to stop obesity. World Health Organization.

Online

• Tackling Obesity, 2023. Online. Available through: < https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-obesity-government-strategy/tackling-obesity-empowering-adults-and-children-to-live-healthier-lives>
• WHO, 2023. Online. Available through: < https://www.who.int/ >
• World Heart Federation, 2023 Online. Available through: < https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/obesity/#:~:text=Obesity%20is%20a%20medical%20condition,living%20with%20overweight%20and%20obesity.>