Question

Discuss what you think is the most pressing health care issue in your community, in the US, and the global community. (Ethics course)

Answer 1

The most important healthcare issue is dealing with the problem of obesity.

1. Obesity is a lifestyle disease of the modern era.
2. we have moved away from our traditional way of life ( simple living, farming, physical labour)
3. But our bodies have yet to adapt to this change.
4. As a result, the luxuries of the modern life are negatively impacting our health.
5. Our successes in food production as helped us deal with the problem of food shortages.
6. In addition, we have developed energy dense foodstuff ( fast food)
7. The need to do physical activity has reduced.
8. All these factors together has lead to increase in calorie consumption beyond what we require.
9. This overnutrition is not only a phenomenon of the economically developed part of our society but affects the poor as well.
10. Obesity forms the base for many disease.
11. This includes - arthersclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apna syndrome.
12. Because these disease, the utilization of the health care system has increased.
13. In many places we see that the health care system is unable to cope with this exodus.
14. Increase disease related to obesity also affect the financial health of the family.
15. This is bigger problem for people belong to low socioeconomic classes.
16. They it difficult to bear the expenses
17. This in turn negatively impacts their health related quality of life.
18. Making it more difficult for them to improve their standard of living. In other words they are stuck in poverty.
19. Health care systems find it difficult to reach out to everyone
20. If measures to deal with obesity are implemented as early as childhood, things will be a lot better for all of us.
21. Children should be taught the importance of exercise and healthy diet.
22. People should encouraged to have home garden where they can grow few vegetables.
23. This will increase their appreciation for farming and increase their physical and psychological health.
24. Exercise programs customize to each and everyones needs will reduce the aversion people have for exercise ( example if someone hates the gym, but loves to dance - she/he can be enrolled in a dance class
25. Measures to deal with obesity start from the individual and end with the healthcare system. In other words we are all required to do our bit.