Healthy People 2020 has outlined public health guidelines that can address the health issues affecting the country. There is a myriad of health issues affecting various populations. The extent of the effectiveness of programs such as health education should be assessed and redirected. Indeed, nutrition, obesity, and physical activity prioritize Healthy People in 2020 and now going into 2030 (DiPietro Mager & Moore, 2020). Healthy People 2030 has documented measurable objectives on populations, social determinants of health, and specific health conditions to be addressed. The rates of obesity in adults have not changed due to the low rates of adults’ responsiveness to lifestyle changes, which may trickle down to children if this is not addressed promptly, as explained by DiPietro Mager & Moore (2020).
Health promotion for the prevention of obesity is known to play an essential role in enhancing patient outcomes. Obesity causes hypertension that can trigger heart diseases, as explained by Healthy People.gov (2020). Further obesity can trigger diabetic conditions; hence having a healthy weight can lower susceptibility to chronic conditions. Past studies have shown that if one of the parents or both is obese, the child is at high risk of obesity. Obese children may not recover well even as they transition to adulthood because of the persisting social and psychological issues that may aggravate the condition. Parents, relatives, and guardians play an important role in obesity in children attributed to adverse childhood experiences, such as those who have lived in dysfunctional family setups, as explained by Purswani, Marsicek, & Amankwah (2020).
Programs aimed at addressing obesity will also rule out other associated disorders such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. For example, healthy eating of vegetables, reducing sugar intake, and consuming processed foods would boost the body’s immune system (HealthyPeople.gov, 2020). Similarly, proper parenting will ensure that the children access healthy foods and a conducive environment for proper social and cognitive development through family activities that creates bonding.
References
DiPietro Mager, N., & Moore, T. S. (2020). Healthy People 2030: Roadmap for Public Health for the Next Decade. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 84(11), 1541–1544. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8462
Healthypeople.gov. (2020). Nutrition and Weight Status. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/nutrition-and-weight- status
Purswani, P., Marsicek, S. M., & Amankwah, E. K. (2020). Association between cumulative exposure to adverse childhood experiences and childhood obesity. PloS One, 15(9), e0239940. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239940
