Addressing Obesity in Durkeeville

Addressing Obesity in Durkeeville

Introduction

Obesity is a significant health concern among adult African Americans in Durkeeville and America as a whole. This information is backed by research data conducted by Laurence (2023) that highlights that, as per the 2022 State of Obesity report, Black adults were recorded to have the highest rate of obesity in the U.S. The data collected placed them at 49.9% as compared to 45.6% of Hispanic adults, 41.4% of white adults, and 16.1% of Asian adults. Therefore, going through the above data and information collected during the windshield survey project, this essay proposes measurable interventions that are based on community data, conversations with community members, and a community assessment.

Community Assessment and Identified Issues

As stated earlier, the information collected during the Windshield Survey project and community assessment revealed high rates of obesity among adult African Americans in Durkeeville. The main factors that have been identified contributing to the rise of obesity in this area include limited access to healthy food, inadequate recreational facilities, socio-economic disparities, and the recurrent issue of systemic racism and discrimination of people of color in America.

Proposed Measurable Interventions

Comprehensive Community Health Plan

Comprehensive Community Health Planning (CCHP) is a very detailed process in a community setting. It is a process that involves engaging a particular community in identifying the various factors that are causing a particular problem and addressing their health needs and priorities. In this case, the health need and priority in Durkeeville is obesity. From the windshield survey conducted, it is evident that the issue of obesity can be addressed through collaborating with the various stakeholders such as the residents of Durkeeville, their leaders, various organizations associated with the community, and agencies that can develop and implement a culturally competent plan aimed at tackling obesity. The effectiveness of this intervention procedure can be measured by tracking the number of collaborations between the various community partners and the rate at which they are successfully implemented into the community.

Health Education and Screening Programs

In any community, continuous activities such as community-driven health education and screening programs play a very important role in raising awareness about various health issues, improving health literacy, and helping detect health problems at an early stage. In this particular community, the focus should be on obesity. In America, health education programs include those provided by the CDC in a list that recognizes family healthy weight programs that are based on adequate evidence and ready for immediate use. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the research study (Health Education and School Wellness, 2016) discusses the importance of incorporating nutrition and physical activity into a school’s health education curriculum, which is an effective education that teaches young children from an early age on ways of preventing the rise of obesity case in the community. The success of these programs can be measured by the increase in health literacy levels in the community and the early detection of obesity and related diseases by the various health agencies in the community.

Advocacy for Policy and Environmental Changes

Advocacy efforts are proposed to bring about policy changes that enhance access to healthcare, promote healthier food options, and improve and maintain recreational facilities in the community. This may include the formation of community advocacy group such as the Obesity Action Coalition group, which outlines their advocacy efforts advocating for access to safe treatment, and promoting research in new and effective obesity treatment procedures (Obesity Action Coalition, 2018). The effectiveness of this intervention can be measured by the number of policy changes enacted in the community and the laws passed by the community governing bodies that is aimed towards the improvements of community health facilities.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the above proposed interventions aim to addressing and combating the factors that have been identified to contribute to the high rates of obesity among adult African Americans in Durkeeville. By implementing these interventions, the African American community in Durkeeville can live health lifestyle resulting to positive changes in health behaviors and outcomes within the community thus promoting health equity and social justice. The effectiveness of these interventions will be evaluated using the proposed measures, ensuring they are effective in solving the healthcare problem of obesity in Durkeeville African American community.

References

Health education and school wellness. (2016, April 11). Obesity Prevention Source. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-prevention/schools/health-education-and-school-wellness/

Kahin, S. A., Murriel, A. L., Pejavara, A., O’Toole, T., & Petersen, R. (2020). The High Obesity Program: a collaboration between public health and cooperative extension services to address obesity. Preventing Chronic Disease, 17. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190283

Laurence, E. (2023, June 13). Obesity statistics. Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/body/obesity-statistics/

Obesity Action Coalition. (2018, June 8). What we advocate for is the Obesity Action Coalition. https://www.obesityaction.org/action-through-advocacy/overview-of-advocacy-in-obesity/what-we-advocate-for/

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Addressing Obesity in Durkeeville

Paper details
Practicum Discussion: This week, your assignment will be to incorporate all of the
information you have gathered from the community—including the population itself,
health data, interviews/conversations with interested community members, and your
community assessment, including your Windshield Survey—as well as what you have
gathered from scholarly literature to propose measurable interventions. Measurable
interventions mean that the results can be measured through some data that could be
collected (Stanhope, 2020). This requires thinking in terms of actions and then
measuring results. An evaluation of interventions is important to see whether or not they
are effective in solving a health care problem. Remember, you will need to use the data
you gathered to determine whether or not a problem exists in your community and to
then determine whether your interventions might be effective.

References: WINDSHIELD SURVEY/COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT conducted in
DURKEEVILLE, Jacksonville FL (#5968)
N.B. Community: Durkeeville area in Jacksonville Florida
Population: Black African Americans age 40 and up
Practicum Project:  Prevention of Obesity among adult (40 and up) African
Americans.