NHPA: obesity

Question 1

Define: obesity

Answer 1

carrying around excess body weight (fat) that can have a negative impact on health.

Question 2

weight measurements/BMI for obese?

Answer 2

• For adults, defined as BMI of atleast 30 and waist measurement of atleast 88cm (females) or 102cm (males)

Question 3

what causes obesity?

Answer 3

• Often caused when energy intake outweighs energy expenditure, but also by metabolic problems

Question 4

why is the rate of obesity in australia increasing?

Answer 4

• Australians have been eating more food and are exercising less than

Question 5

why is obesity a NHPA?

Answer 5

Can lead to the development of other conditions (key determinant for type 2 and gestational diabetes, CVD, arthritis and kidney disease – decreasing obesity levels can help decrease the prevalence of these conditions). 
Contributes greatly to BOD in Australia (particularly YLD, eg. difficulty in exercising). 
Often preventable (by eating a more nutrient dense/less energy dense diet and exercising more).

Question 6

Direct costs to inv’s

Answer 6

• Weight management programs and copayments for medications

* Costs due to related conditions: eg. ambulance fees for heart attack

Question 7

Direct costs to comm

Answer 7

• Doctor/specialist fees to diagnose obesity
• Operating public and private hospitals for people hospitalised by heart attack related to obesity
• Costs associated with implementing health promotion programs (eg. LiveLighter)
• Taxes paid towards Medicare and PBS

Question 8

Indirect costs to ind’s

Answer 8

Due to related conditions
• Can’t work – loss of income
• If can’t do the housework, costs of additional services (eg. housekeeper)

Question 9

Indirect costs to comm

Answer 9

• Loss of productivity
• Welfare due to not working
• Costs of carers

Question 10

Intangible costs to ind’s

Answer 10

• Mental health: self conscious  low self esteem
• Sleep disturbances due to related conditions, eg. sleep apnoea
• Reduced fitness levels/ can’t exercise as at high intensity (as increase in tissues requiring oxygen)
• Lowered energy levels
• Adjustments required to make dietary changes

Question 11

Intangible costs to comm

Answer 11

• Stress and anxiety for family and friends if diagnosed with related condition
• Feelings of frustration for family and friends if they have to take time out of lives to care for them due to related condition

Question 12

Define: sleep apnoea

Answer 12

excess weight pushes the walls of the through together, which can temporarily halt breathing and force person to wake up.

Question 13

biological determinants?

Answer 13

Age
• as age increases, metabolism slows down; becomes more difficult to maintain weight.
Genetic predisposition
Basal metabolic rate
• lower BMR results in less energy being used, which can lead to obesity
Hormonal disturbances
• Leptin contributes to appetite and fat distribution
• Disturbances in levels of/sensitivity to leptin can lead to obesity.

Question 14

behavioural determinants?

Answer 14

• Lack of physical activity
• Energy dense diet
• Excessive alcohol consumption (as alcohol contains kilojoules)

Question 15

physical environment determinants?

Answer 15

Access to recreation facilities
Work environment
• If it doesn’t facilitate incidental exercise (walking up stairs, around factory…) can lead to weight gain.
• Seating arrangements
Transport systems
• Passive methods of transport (eg. car travel) can lead to increased obesity risk
• Not having transport to get fresh fruit and vegetables can lead to reliance on processed foods…

Question 16

Social determinats?

Answer 16

• Low SES
• Food insecurity, leading to reliance on processed foods
• Stress (eating may be a response to it)
• Early life experience (more likely if obese in childhood, due to difficulties in losing weight and changing dietary and physical activity behaviours)

Question 17

Livelighter campaign: WHO?

Answer 17

• Developed by Department of Health Western Australia

* Implemented in Victoria; funded by Victorian Government and carried out by the Heart Foundation and the Cancer Council

Question 18

LL: aims?

Answer 18

• Assist adults in eating well, being physically active and maintaining a healthy body weight
• In doing so, to reduce impact of related conditions such as CVD, T2D, some cancers (colorectal/breast cancer)

Question 19

LL: how?

Answer 19

Advertising campaigns
• Found in newspapers, online and on TV
• They are very graphic/confronting to educate people on the dangers of obesity and abdominal fat, and to encourage Australians to lose excess weight … and to reduce obesity levels in Australia.
Resources on their website
• Am I at risk? Tool
o Gauges risk for obesity – teaches how to take waist circumference, and BMI calculator
o Also has information for risk of related conditions
o Resources to reduce risk
• 12 week meal and activity planner
o Creates meal plan based on energy needs (age, sex, height, weight, waist circumference) and over time gives them more freedom to choose their meals.
o Also has space for physical activity to be put
• Recipes:
o Provides nutrient dense rather than energy dense meals to reduce obesity risk
o For breakfast, light/main meals, desserts, snacks and drinks
• Top tips
o Watch portion sizes, limit intake of unhealthy fats, avoid sugary drinks, eat healthier when out (grilled rather than fried, salads), be active everyday