Taking a Public Health Approach

Taking a Public Health Approach - The increasing prevalence of obesity makes it evident that shifting from a treatmentmodel to a public health model that shifting from a treatment model to a public health model that emphasizes prevention will be essential for combating this problem (Battle & Brownell, 1996). Although cognitive-behavioral methods are helping at least some people lose weight, clearly weight-loss programs are not a sufficient attack on the problems of overweight and obesity.

the public health approach to prevention

Prevention with families at risk for producing obese children is one important strategy. If parents can be trained early to adopt sensible meal planning and eating habits that they can convey to their children, the incidence of obesity may ultimately decline.

Although obesity has proven to be very difficult to modify at the adult level, behavioral treatment of childhood obesity has an impressive record of success. It may be easier to teach children healthy eating and activity habits than to teach adults, Programs that increase activity levels through reinforcements for exercise are an important componen of weight-control programs with children (L. H. Epstein, Saelens, Myers, & Vito, 1997). Interventions that reduce TV watching can also reduce weight in children (T. N. Robinso, 1999). Moreover, because parents regulates children's access to food, problems in self-control are less likely to emerge with children. Whether treatment of childhood obesity will have long-tern effects on adult weight remains to be seen (G. T. Wilson, 1994).

Another approach to obesity that emphasizes prevention programs for normal-weight adults. If exercise can be increased, diet altered in a healthy direction, and good eating habits developed, the weight gains that often accompany the aging process may be prevented (L. H. Epstein, Valoski, Wing, & McCurley, 1994). This approach may be particularly succesful for women during menopause, as weight gain is very common during this time (SimkinSilverman, Wing, Boraz, & Kuller, 2003).

Like many healts habits, social engineering strategies may become part of the attack on this growing problem. The Word Health Organization has argued for several changes, which include food labels that contain more nutrition and serving size information, a special tax on foods that are high in sugar and fat (the so-called" junk food' tax), and restriction of advertising to children or requiring health warnings (Arnst, 2004).

The internal Revenue Service has already declared that a person diagnosed by a physician as obese can claim fees paid to weight-loss programs as a tax deduction (Kristof, 2002). In fact, the rulling permits an individual to deduct the cost of the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of the desease. Clearly the rulling covers formal weight-loss programs. It is not yet clear if it would cover gym memberships or exercise equipment, for example. Some individuals have even gone so far as to sue fast food places and food companies. Although these suits may be found to lack merit. the pressure they bring on the industry to engage in responsible food marketing practices and scutiny of theirs products, may ultimately be of benefit (Nestle, 2003)