Obesity in Australia

Question: Discuss about the Obesity in Australia. Answer: Introduction: Many health concerns have arisen in the last decade as a consequence of either lifestyle or pollution in the air we breathe or the food we eat. These are the emerging health issues that have targeted individual irrespective of age or gender (Bogossian et al., 2012). One of such concerns is the rapid escalation of obesity in the mass. Be it children or adolescents or adults. Men and women all ages are the victim of this predicament. Despite it being a global health issue this report takes up Australia as an example to evaluate different aspects of obesity and different stakeholders associated with this issue (Brennan et al., 2015). All about obesity: Obesity has become one of the primary factors leading to a high mortality rates worldwide, by paving the way for fatal medical complications (Finegood, 2012). Australia also has made a place for itself in the long list of obesity epidemic countries. In order to target the issue of obesity it is vital to characterize the disease itself. Obesity is a clinical condition that causes the body mass index to increase rapidly that has the potential to impart an adverse effect on the health and wellbeing of the individuals (Brennan et al., 2015). There are a lot of factors that can contribute to obesity like food habits, life style choices or genetic predisposition. Obesity leads to a lot of other more complicated health problems including diabetes, cardiac complications and hypertension, but societal stigma continues to be the lethal most consequence of obesity. Different stakeholders: Obesity is a major global health concern and naturally there are different stakeholders associated with it in both health sector and outside health sector. Each stakeholder has a different role to play in this context. The most vital stakeholder will be the people that suffer with excessive body weight themselves, from children to adults, across all age groups (Lacy et al., 2012). The next major stakeholder would be the clinical practioner or nutritionist that an obese would seek advice from along with the health care providers that will be involved in caring and assisting for the obese individuals. There are a lot of medications available in the market that addresses the issue of obesity, the manufacturers and the sellers of these medications are important stakeholders in this. Surpassing the medical sector there are a lot of other stakeholders involved in this issue. Most importantly the gym is undoubtedly the most important stakeholder outside the realm of health care services (Lu ke Stamatakis, 2012). Apart from that there are slimming tools and technologies available in the market along with slimming clothing that attempt to camouflage the appearance of obesity. There are block clubs and charitable events and civic events in the region that are actively involved in supporting and motivating the obese. There are a number social service agencies and recreational centres or yoga centres that provide regular exercise activities for the obese to help them regain control of their lives. There are different classes available as well that educate the people suffering with obesity about different diet options and supplements that help with reducing or burning extra fat and different exercise regimes that help in reshaping (Lacy et al., 2012). Systems thinking approach: With the varied range of stakeholders, an emerging health concern such as the increasing obesity in the mass will undoubtedly have a lot of factors complicating the path of finding a solution. The societal discrimination and self indulgence being the prime few of them, however incorporating a systems thinking approach can easily prove to be the light in the dark abyss (Swinburn Wood, 2013). A system thinking approach facilitates the selection of a solution, utilizing a variety of different resources, methodologies, theories and principles (Walls et al., 2012). Using these tools the purpose behind a systems thinking approach is to arrive at a conclusion that acknowledges the interrelationship among the key stakeholders and identification of a common process that leads to a stable future. A systems thinking approach to improve the health conditions in a population level involves a preconceived and well organized curated care setting that addresses all factor associated with the particular issue. In a global issue like obesity, the intervention has to be effective and efficiently incorporated into the activities of all the stakeholders involved. For example in case of a obese child, a systems thinking approach to his care will involve himself, his family, his physician, the managed care organizer and the external stakeholders indirectly associated (Swinburn Wood, 2013). However there are some limitations to the implementation of a systems thinking approach. Limitations and restrictions: The MCO health care setting is ideal for incorporating a systems thinking approach to tackle obesity as a health concern but implementation of it can face some serious challenges. The first challenge is the lack of substantial data of what works in a health care setting to tackle obesity (Walls et al., 2012). The other major setback will be the denial and preconceived notions in the general mass, for example in native communities of Australia the perceived notion of the inefficacy and risk of the programs or interventions can seriously hamper the outcome of the systems approach. Small scale interventions don not always work in bigger settings and Australia being diverse with strong multicultural influence it become4 even more of a problem. Lastly the lack of motivation or will in the obesogenic population to participate or volunteer to changes that can help them get back in shape (Johnston, Matteson Finegood, 2014). Recommendation: Despite all the challenges the systems thinking approach is certainly the optimal opportunity for the obese to change their lifestyle and improve their social and personal dignity. A few careful strategies can attempt to overcome the challenges to successful incorporation of changes that can help the obesogenic population of Australia to a great extent (Johnston, Matteson Finegood, 2014). Generating awareness in the mass about the adverse effects of obesity. Finding more engaging techniques that will persuade the obese to try Counselling to destroy myths and safeguarding confidentiality so that the participants feel empowered and safe. Persuasive campaigning that invites the people to take the plunge and try the intervention (Lacy et al., 2012) Conclusion: This innovative systematic approach has a huge potential to successfully target and diminish the alarmingly increasing rates of obesity in the population at large irrespective of age or gender. The systems thinking approach facilitates specific targeted implementation procedures that if incorporated at the right time in the right way, can yield wondrous results. However the challenges that still prevail in the incorporation can be a tricky hurdle to overcome but effective participation of all stakeholders can ensure successful incorporation and impactful results. References: Bogossian, F. E., Hepworth, J., Leong, G. M., Flaws, D. F., Gibbons, K. S., Benefer, C. A., Turner, C. T. (2012). 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