Question

Once upon a time, there was a small country called Bobistan. Bobistan had, overall, a fairly healthy population. However, in Bobawa, the capital city, there has been a rise in the number of people with Type 2 diabetes in the last 5 years. Bobistan is a relatively flat country, with a population of only 1.6 million people. In the last 10 years, Bobistonians have moved away from their traditional diets and started importing foods- in fact, a well-known fast-food chain recently opened up in the middle of Bobawa. Traditionally, most people traveled on horseback, but now things like cars and motorcycles are being seen more frequently. In addition, there are now more doctors than there used to be, and women are able to see a physician during their pregnancy routinely.

Using the 3 paradigms that you’ve read about, discuss the possible causal factors for this sudden rise. Be sure to support your arguments with your readings.

In addition, be sure to touch on 1-2 limitations of your overall argument(s), again, using your readings.

References

Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., & Kjellstrom, T. (2006). Chapter 1: What is epidemiology? In Basic Epidemiology. World Health Organization. Accessed at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43541/9241547073_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y or to download here.

Pheasant, H. (2008). 2a - Epidemiological paradigms. In Disease Causation and Diagnostic. (Please Read the following sections: Programming, Adult Risk Factor Approaches, and Life-Course). Accessed at: https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/disease-causation-diagnostic/2a-epidemiological-paradigms

Kirwan, M. (2006). 2b - Epidemiology of diseases of public health significance. In Disease Causation and Diagnostic. (Please read the following sections: Infectious Diseases, Cancers of Public Health Significance, Specific Chronic Diseases, and Epidemiological Frameworks). Accessed at: https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/disease-causation-diagnostic/2b-epidemiology-diseases-phs

Answer 1

Type 2 diabetes is one of the chronic diseases that raise in the United States silently. In cities like Bobistan, it increases more rapidly. The epidemiological paradigms and the causative factors for the sudden rise of type 2 diabetes are

• fast-food habits
• Increased cars and motorcycles
• Increased number of the physician.

Type 2 diabetes is the rise of glucose level in the blood. Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugar and convert into glucose. This has been utilized by the body cells. Intake of excess carbohydrates leads to increased blood glucose and insulin insufficiency to convert into glucose results in increased blood glucose level. Traditional diet has rich in fiber and low in carbohydrates and decreases the glycemic load whereas the rapid transition of fast food and sweetened beverages had a rich in carbohydrate, high glycemic index and glycemic load which increases the diabetes patient in the population. Thus the food choices and dietary patterns play a vital role in rising of diabetes in Bobistan city.

Increased transportation like cars and motorcycles decreases the physical activity of people. Inactivity of people and the sedentary lifestyle increase the number of diabetes among the population. An absence of recreational activity and increased industrialization leads to increased number of diabetic patients. The high income and education make awareness of the people which changes from traditional medicine to visit hospitalization for sickness. The change of societies and other environmental factors like pollutants, exposure to harmful substances associated with insulin resistance which also increases disease condition and rise in the number of the physician in the Bobistan city.