Identification of chosen population Essay

Mexico has replaced United States as the most obese country in the Western Hemisphere. The problem of obesity in Mexico has become a global public health challenge and was accepted by the World Health governing body as such in 1997. 70% of Mexicans are overweight while 32.8% of them are obese. 1 out of every 6 Mexicans adults suffer from weight think chronic diseases such as diabetis, heart disease and certain cancers. 70,000 Mexicans die each year from weight related diabetis. 400, 000 new cases of diabetis arise each year.FACTORS THAT capture OBESITY IN THE MEXICAN POPULATIONThe problem of obesity in Mexico is very complex and it is repayable to many factors including social, cultural, epidemiological and environmental factors.SOCIAL FACTORS touch OBESITY IN MEXICANS1. LOW EDUCATION STATUS in that respect is much lack of knowledge of what nutritive viandss are and what the dour term effects from have unhealthy victualss are. There is also lack of knowledge about the impac t physical exercise can have on health as soundly as what kind of exercise and how often it should be done. 2. EMPLOYMENT STATUSPeople who work long hours have no time for shopping for alimental feed and also for cooking at home. Therefore they rely on processed, fried, tall fat, high sugar, high calorie foods and high sugary beverages that are slatternly entreeible. 3. POVERTYOne of the major social factors influencing obesity in Mexico is poverty. Poverty predicts the place of residence which is usually in insecure communities. Living in grave neighborhoods means children stay indoors not be able to go outside and play. They resort to watching TV and playing computer games. Poverty makes it challenging to buy foods that are healthier, low calorie and much nutritive because it is more expensive.Long hours of work means less time for food preparation at home, shopping for groceries and physical practise. Lack of money and transportation lead to children being unable to participate in sports, recr run downional activities and youth programs. Poverty also leads to straining which compels mess to focus on the immediate concerns rather than risk of long term chronic disease. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTORS bear upon OBESITY IN MEXICANS1. AGEMexico ranks scratch line in childhood obesity there are 4.5 million children who are obese. 28% of children between the ages of 5 and 9 are overweight. 38% of teens and preteens between the ages of 10 and 19 are obese or overweight. 2. GENDERMexican females have a higher obesity rate than males (one third females versus one fourth of males). 3. corporeal ACTIVITYPoor physical activity and an join on in inactive life-style. 4. LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUSMexicans with low socioeconomic status are unable to leave nourishing food, they rely on low cost, processed high-calorie foods and high sugary crapulences. LOW EDUCATION LEVELThey lack knowledge about what foods are nutritious and what the long term effects are of consuming high fat, high sugar, highly processed foods and beverages. MIGRATIONMore Mexicans have moved from rural to urban communities where nutritious food is more expensive, there is less walking or biking due to amplificationd number of cars, there is an increased consumption of coca-cola mainly due to unsafe drinking water supply. Traditional diets that are healthier are abandoned. Traditional continuous physical labor such as farming, factories, mining were abandoned for desk jobs.CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING OBESITY IN MEXICANSOvereating now is conditioned by recurrent or past economic deprivation. Avoiding hunger is part of the culture. Traditional nutritious foods manage corn, grains, beans have been abandoned. Foods that could not be afforded in the past and associated with survival are those that now are highly valued like meats, fats, sugars. These foods are also craved because they are associated with a high social status it is a symbol of integration into society. Acc ulturation is also a factor Latinos who take on the set of the white population especially those closer to the United States border, end up eating less fruit, more fried foods. There is also the belief that some(prenominal) happens, happens. They believe that if they are going to get diabetis, they get diabetis. It is meant to happen. Also, the parents expect their kids to clean their plate in order to not waste food which ends up in overeating.ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING OBESITY IN MEXICANSThey reside in low income communities where unhealthy food choices are made due to lots of unshakable food stores. These areas are not safe so they tend to stay indoors and have minimal physical activity. There is limited amount of fresh become and lots of sweets and snack items. Since these areas are not safe, there are few safe areas where children can play therefore they end up watching a lot of TV with no physical activity. The schools they attend have poor PE facilities so there is n ot much physical activity in school. There is also a high exposure to commercials of high sugar, high fat snacks.PAST CONSIDERATIONSObesity rate was much lower in the past as people were doing more manual labor, they were eating more nutritious, home grown grains, beans, corn, fresh vegetables and fruits. The existence of cars was very minimal in the past so people used to bike and walk much more than now.PRESENT CONSIDERATIONSMore and more people have moved from rural areas to urban areas. There is an increase in the number of fast food restaurants and a great increase in the daily caloric intake. Due to unsafe drinking water, there is an increase in high calorie sugary drinks. Mothers fill up baby bottles with coca-cola. The life in urban communities is more sedentary. There is a reliance on less nutritious dies that consist of processed foods that are high in saturated fats, sugar and salt content. Mexicans spent 29.3% less on fruits and vegetables in 1998 than in 1984, while dur ing the same period, purchases of mushy drinks increased by 37.2% (2006). FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSObesity leads to increased mortality rates due to diabeits, hypertension, myocardial infarction. Diabetis is the primary killer of Mexicans. The prevalence of diabetis and the cost it incurs has skyrocketed. It is predicted to overwhelm the Mexican health system in the future. By year 2030, the health system is predicted to collapse 3.24 billion dollars are spent to report these chronic illnesses associated with obesity. GROUPS IN MEXICO MOSTLY AFFECTED BY OBESITYTHE POORPoor Mexicans are unable to afford nutritious food as it is more expensive. More energy-intense foods such as foods high in sugar and fat are cheap and sought after due to lack of money. Coca-cola is consumed instead of water due to unsafe drinking water. THE YOUNGIn the last decade, children obesity rate has tripled. Within the poor classes, the children of the obese parents are malnourished while being programmed to b ecome obese. There is no control in school as to what children eat. Schools are filled with vending machines full of diffused drinks and fast food. Their intake of processed, salty, high fat snacks, refined carbohydrates foods is very high while their intake of vegetables and fruits is very low. Their intake of sugary, high calorie beverages such as coca-cola is very high due to its low price, increased availability and lack of safe drinking water.They live in unsafe communities and are unable to play outside and be active. They draw excess time watching TV, play station time and computer. A lot of parents rely on TV for their children due to lack of childcare this leads to sedentary lifestyle and exposure to unhealthy food commercials. Most public schools lack playgrounds or grounds for exercise. Most public schools, (80%), lack water fountains so they drink sugary drinks. There are few public most parks, swimming pools, play grounds and sidewalks. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE1. FO OD LABELINGThere is an urgent need for food labeling that is not confusing and misleading. There is a lack of accurate labeling standards and regulations. Portions sizes and contents are unclear and confusing. The labeling has to be formatted in an easy-to-understand by all consumers even by the less well-educated ones. This will address the social factors the plan will not improve their education level but it will make it easy for them to see if they are purchasing healthy or unhealthy food. This has to be applied to all supermarket shelves, food packaging, restaurants and canteen menus. My recommendation is for the Mexican government to low gear monitoring these food labeling as it is not reinforced by the government today.2. MARKETINGThe heavy consumption of junk foods and sugary drinks can be greatly influenced by the media due to their food related advertisements. 73% of the food commercials are for junk food. There is a need to protect the children from the pervasive effects of the food marketing. This has a powerful effect on their food preference, knowledge on the purchasing habits of children as well as their parents. My recommendation for the Mexican government would be to put in place to mobile phones, Internet, television and in-school promotions. The government should simply ban the advertising of unhealthy food to children and establish a system of pecuniary fines if certain companies deviate from this. This will address the environmental factors if children dont see it they will not buy it. 3. AVAILABILITYJunk food and soft drinks surround children at every step. Vending machines full of high saturated fats, high sugary drinks are all over the school premises and right on outside the schools. No nutritious foods are offered to children in schools. My recommendation is that the central and local Mexican Government should place restrictions on the availability of soft drinks and fast food outlets just like alcohol and smoking restrictions. These restrictions should especially apply to outlets near schools.The increased availability of vegetables and fruits should be highly encouraged especially in schools at an affordable price. Elementary and pre-kindergarten schools should ban junk food from being even allowed to be sold in schools. Low calorie snacks and sugar alleviate drinks should be sold only. This plan will take into considerations environmental, social and epidemiological factors. It will not improve their socio- economic status, but at least nutritious food will be more affordable and available even for the poor. If children will not be surrounded by junk food and soft drinksthey will not buy it. 4.EDUCATION DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGEThe key to this problem in Mexico is to improve their knowledge about bread and butter. This can be done through media since the Mexicans including the children spend hours in front of the TV and through schools. The government should direct media into advocating weight loss programs , healthy eating, the importance of physical exercise, and the long term effects of consuming junk food and soft drinks. The schools need to educate and give tools especially to high school students who have more access to fast foods to make better and healthy choices in school as well as after school. They can then bring the message home to the parents who can then make better choices as well.They need to teach the importance of physical activity. Local school districts need to make physical activity and physical education a higher priority or even mandatory. The children need to be taught the importance of drinking water not sugary high-calorie beverages and that they should eat only when they are hungry and not as their culture says avoid hunger. Local grocery stores need to be worked with and asked to move soda, chips, beer and candy away from the submission to the store and also increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables. These recommendations will address the so cial and cultural factors associated with obesity. This will improve their education level about nutrition therefore helping them make better choices and help them change their belief system that they have to avoid hunger.ReferencesObesity in the Latino Communities, 2006. Retrieved from www/chc.org/ look into/ Documents/Obesity_in_Latino_Communities.pdf