How Healthy Are The Youth Of Today 's Population

Since 1980, the United States has taken on 10-year plans that outline certain key national health objectives set to be accomplished during a 10-year timeframe (Shi & Singh, 2015). These initiatives are founded on medical care with prevention services, health promotion, education, community health care, and increased access to integrated services. The initiative, Healthy People 2010: Healthy People in Healthy Communities, launched in 2000. The initiative emphasizes the role of community partners such as

Health has become a very popular topic in today’s society; how to lose weight, healthy body mass index, proper foods to eat to give your body nutrition, certain exercises to help lose weight here or gain muscle there, lower prices for a gym memberships, it seems to be a topic we are hearing about all the time now. However, there seems to lack of conversation about the health of the younger generation. Obesity among children is a growing problem in today’s society (Ogden, Carroll, Lawman, Fryar, Kruszon-Moran, Kit 2015).

The health status of the population in the United States is a national priority. The Healthy People 2020 outlines priorities and to improve the health of individuals and communities across the country. Healthy People 2020 is defined as a comprehensive set of national objectives for “improving the health of all Americans” (Healthy People 2020, n.d, para. 1). The Healthy people 2020, is aimed at improving the health of individuals and communities and envisions “a society in which all people live long, healthy lives” (Healthy People 2020, n.d, para 4). A short priority list was developed and contains twenty-six objectives knowns as Leading Health Indicators (LHI). The list of objectives was created to prioritize health issues that must be addressed and to find appropriate actions to take in order to improve the health of the population.

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake” a quote made by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, as she launches her comprehensive initiative to change the way children think about nutrition and physical fitness (“Learn the Facts,” 2010). Three decades ago, children lived active lives that kept them healthier. They walked to and from school, ate home cooked, reasonable portion meals with vegetables and played outdoors most of the time. Today, children ride the bus instead of walk, eat more fast food and snacks throughout the day because parents are busier, and watch more television or play video games rather than be active outside with peers (“Learn the Facts,” 2010). Young children are becoming overweight and obese along with being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more frequently. They are making poor dietary choices, inadequate physical activity, and spending too much screen time all contributing to the obesity crisis. One of the effective solutions to reversing the trend of childhood obesity is to provide safe, affordable and accessible after-school health and physical fitness educational programs for all school ages across the nation.

Epidemiology is viewed as the fundamental science of public health and is key in endorsing optimal health in the community as a whole (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008). Epidemiologic study and practice continues to reform public health and endeavors to prevent disease in communities across the world. This paper will address through descriptive epidemiology, the rising disease of obesity and will focus on the teen and adolescent population of the United States. This paper will also define and discuss the purpose of epidemiology, the methods of the science, the epidemiological triangle, and the relationship of the disease to various levels of prevention.

Implementing these lifestyle habits will result in healthier people and lowered rates of chronic illness. One avenue to best prevent the development of chronic disease is to have health and wellness programs in the community, workplace, and schools (NCSL, 2012). If the population was properly educated on how to realistically live healthy lifestyles, then it would be easier to change and adopt healthier habits. This is especially true for adolescents in the school system. If nutrition and health classes were mandatory components of education across the nation, children would be able to learn healthy habits early on in life and more easily maintain those habits as they grow older. Results of these programs would be vastly beneficial due to a reduction in chronic disease prevalence. In addition to promoting healthy lifestyles and chronic disease prevention, discovering and implementing newly effective treatments are paramount to reduce chronic disease. With more advanced technology and medications, early detection and management of chronic diseases are improved and risks for CCM are reduced (Chatterjee et al., 2014). These improvements will not only

This article gave us information on Healthy People 2020, which was launched on December 2, 2010 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The article states that Healthy People 2020 is a strategic approach by the federal government, states, communities, and many other public and private partners to improve the health of the US population. This plans states that improvement will be completed over a ten-year time span. The Healthy People strategy was designed to define and promote a common sense of purpose and goals. These goals include: attaining a longer high quality live free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death, achieving health equity, eliminating disparities, and improving the health of all groups,

(2012). Health reform and Healthy People initiative. American Journal Of Public Health, 102(1), 30-33. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300312

Released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services each decade, Healthy People reflects the idea that setting objectives and providing science-based benchmarks to track and monitor progress can motivate and focus action (Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Healthy People 2020 represents the fourth generation of this initiative, building on a foundation of three decades of work (Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Over the years it has been modified, strengthened, and expanded to cover a wide range of health related concerns with its main focus aimed at prioritizing and emphasizing disease prevention. The goals of Healthy People 2020 are to attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability,

Healthy people 2020 “ establishes national goals and objectives for policy, programs, and activities to address the major health challenges facing our country today, and seeks to assure conditions in which people can be healthy, both now and for generations to come” (Secretary Advisory Committee, 2010, pg., 2). This initiative helps supports people on their health and wellbeing. It strives to identify potential health risks and help support improvement priorities. Healthy people 2020 have elaborated with different sectors to strengthen these policies by proving goals and objectives.

There is a new epidemic that is hitting America by storm in this day and age. It is a serious concern that can lead to serious health problems, social ostracism and, if left untreated, fatality. This disease is obesity, more specially child and teenage obesity in America which statistics show has reached an alarming 2.5 million for children ranging from 2 to 19. This teeming number is continually increasing and as a result, children are at an increased risk for diseases traditionally correlated with adults such as heart disease and Type II diabetes. Sadly enough, this can and will shorten the life span of children if measures are not taken. Now, there are many unknowns as to the actual causes of teen obesity and not just gluttony or

In 2010, Healthy People 2020 was started by the Department of Human Health Services. Health programs and research topics were instituted to help Americans live healthier and longer lives (CDC, 2014). The 42 topics presented are all very important in maintaining the goals set by Healthy People 2020. If these programs were to be cut or budget restraints imposed on them, the impact would be felt by all Americans. There would be more unhealthy people, preventable chronic diseases would be more prevalent, and education and health associated programs would be

The social determinants of health topic area within healthy people 2020 are designed to identify ways to create social and physical environments that promote good health for all. Healthy attitudes start from homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities. People practice good behavior by eating well, exercising, getting scheduled immunizations to prevent infectious diseases, drinking clean water, breathing air free of pollution, attending checkups with medical doctors and going for disease screening (Healthy People, 2014). The quality of our schooling, the safety of workplaces, our social interactions and relationships, explain in part why Americans are healthier than others. The determinants of health fall under several categories

Upon reviewing the community vitality data I came to the conclusion that the health problem that a health education program would be most appropriate to address would be childhood nutritional health and fitness. I came to this conclusion after careful data analysis. Of the county’s adults (18+) 77% ate less than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, this percentage is so high likely because of attitudes and habits these adults picked up when they were children. The second largest age demographic in the county is children aged 10 to 17 are overweight, six percent more than the state average, 88% of children age 10 to 17 are not meeting daily targets for fruit and vegetable consumption and 30% age 10 to 17 watch 3 or

Health disparities among non-white populations are rising and the gap in services and health outcomes are increasing. The PPE program addresses the importance of understanding and incorporating social determinants into disseminated health messages, while also considering lifecourse. Although college age students are farther into their reproductive years, it is equally important to educate them on healthy preconception practices and provide information to assist informed decision-making for their futures. Although college age students may not be from the town or city, there is an understanding of the community they are a part of. When you live and immerse yourself in a city or community, you can recognize what factors are protective or harmful to positive health behaviors and outcomes. Utilizing community support and providing culturally appropriate health messages increases the likelihood of accessing