Childhood Obesity And The Health Of New Zealanders Essay

Introduction Many environmental factors, are affecting the health of New Zealanders. Although the most recent New Zealand health survey states â€Å"The majority of New Zealanders report being in good health†, the survey also showed many concerning health issues are on the rise (Ministry of Health, 2014). Childhood obesity is one of these. In the last ten years, childhood obesity incidence has risen dramatically with one in nine children being obese (Ministry of Health, 2013). Obesity is defined as an individual who is excessively heavy and has a body mass index over 30, calculated by the individual’s weight and height (Mosby, 2010). Childhood obesity has a direct correlation to increased incidence of heart disease, hypertension, stroke and diabetes (Ministry of Social Development, 2010). This essay will discuss the links between childhood obesity and environment within the socio-political context of New Zealand. This essay will discuss how a child’s immediate surroundings such as family can affect food choices and health outcomes. It then addresses how the secondary environment of a child such as school, community, neighbourhood and education can affect their weight. The essay finally looks at how the larger environment factors such as media and politics are affecting this crisis, the impact of the business drivers and decisions made by government that impact this alarming health issue. Immediate Environment The immediate environment of aShow MoreRelatedInequality Between Societies Within New Zealand1409 Words   |  6 PagesInequality between societies within New Zealand. The facts of how the societies in New Zealand, has been affected or can be affect the factors including; biological, educational, family, social and political. Difference of inequality occurs in societies, how it has been treated the societies unequal in many ways. The characteristics affected or can affect the societies to inequality from five factors within poor health, obesity, lifestyles, communities, belief, government promises not honoured. IncomeRead MoreObesity : The Body Mass Index Essay1699 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Obesity can be defined as an abnormal increase in the proportion of fat cells, mainly in the viscera and subcutaneous tissues of the body (Mosby, 2010). The official medical measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI), an index of an individual’s weight relative to height. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines obesity as having a BMI greater than or equal to 30 (World Health Organisation, 2015). New Zealand (NZ) ranks 3rd highest for obesity rates amongst OECD (OrganisationRead MorePoverty Is A Form Material Disadvantage Essay1653 Words   |  7 Pagesraised by the state or from poor families. The Children’s Commission states that poverty in Aotearoa as the exclusion from the â€Å"minimum acceptable way of life in one’s own society due to inadequate resources† (as cited by Chandra, 2015 p 79). Thus, New Zealand falls in the latter, poverty here is ‘relative’. To understand who fits into the category of poverty, we first need to know how to measure it. Bradshaw lists four indicators on how poverty is measured. 1. Measuring the average householdRead MoreThe Socio Ecological Model Of Childhood Obesity Essay1660 Words   |  7 Pagesfacilitate better understanding of how everyday lived environments are complicit in producing higher rates of obesity and its associated diseases among New Zealanders, particularly in children. Childhood obesity is widely regarded as a significant health concern in New Zealand (NZ), owing to its growing national prevalence, its links to long term ill-health, and high economic burden on the health system. A socio-ecological model can be used to demonstrate how environments, ranging from individual to societalRead MoreThe Social Determinants Of Health1306 Words   |  6 PagesConditions of birth and people’s growth, lifestyles, occupations and age strongly influence their health. This essay focuses on children between the ages of zero to 19 and examines what the social determinants of health are. Firstly, it attempts to analyse poverty, family violence, addiction and the impacts on the health of younger New Zealanders who are exposed to those determinants. Secondly, strategies, initiatives and prevention services are identified at national, regional and local levels toRead MoreThe Biology Behind Type 2 Diabetes Essay1609 Words   |  7 PagesIntroducing questions†¦ 1. Main question: Why do Maori/Pacific islanders, have a greater chance of getting diabetes than all other cultures in New Zealand? -Maori and PI communities are 3 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than other New Zealanders? I believe this is linked to the high obesity and heart disease rates in our communities. Other questions†¦ 2: Why is type 2 diabetes an issue in our community? -this is an issue as it gives your town a bad rep, affects families asRead MoreHow Diet And A Healthy Diet Essay1499 Words   |  6 PagesDiabetes - An issue for our community My report is about: How can exercise and a healthy diet help in the management of Type-2 Diabetes? In New Zealand, Type-2 Diabetes is a growing issue. For many years now, it has been a severe problem and is only getting worse. According to NZ Ministry of Health Survey, the obesity rates are climbing in NZ, and as obesity is directly linked with Type 2 Diabetes.There are incredible numbers of people in NZ being diagnosed with Type-2 Diabetes all the time, fromRead MoreA Study On Type II Diabetes Essay2200 Words   |  9 PagesType II diabetes is one of the most critical health issues in NZ, due to its prevalence and severity. There are significant differences in prevalence in NZ among different socioeconomic/ethnic groups. This assignment will discuss different measures of health and socioeconomic status (SES), describe different explanations of the diabetes-related inequalities in NZ and how different factors interact to perpetuate these, and discuss whether these inequalities are inequities. Type II diabetes is a non-communicableRead MoreHow The Body Mass Index Affects The Size Of The Population Essay2730 Words   |  11 Pages New Zealand is said to be one of the most obese countries in relation to the size of the population. With the statistics increasing as time goes on, it has become a real issue within society that is causing the government and health boards to seriously consider and address the problem through health promotion. Obesity could be defined as an excessively high amount of body fat (also known as adipose tissue) in relation to lean body mass [1] and there is now evidence to prove that obese childrenRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Poverty Essay2136 Words   |  9 Pagespoverty is an issue that has the public divided. On one side there are people empathising with their plight and raising awareness on the issue, and on the other hand there are people saying why the money always should go to the poor as it is costing New Zealand millions of dollars each year. It has been portrayed by media as something to be combated and eradicated. Conversations on poverty bring up the topics such as how it ef fects on a child s well-being, education and how to tackle it. This paper