The Biopsychosocial Model of Health

Farburn et al (2002) suggests that “the prevalence of obesity and its physiological and psychological complications is increasing among children and adults. These findings emphasize the need for effective prevention and treatment programs. Public health policies and strategies are implemented to meet targets to tackle health issues and socioeconomic problems (Lydia Balsdon, 2009). The House of Commons Health Select Committee (HSC 2004) foreseen the rise in health-care costs related to obesityas the figures are predicted to double by 2050, the estimated cost in 2002 was around £3340-3724 million. Obesity usually relates to limitations in mobility, which results in challenges with daily activities and affecting the quality of life and preventing individuals from finding employability. Health and psychological complications from obesity and related diseases impact the health and social care cost as individuals have high sickness and absence levels from work, which results in low productivity and enforces costs on industries.(McCormick et al, 2007). The government addresses the national strategies in tackling and reducing the obesity figures in the UK. (DH, 2005b). The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2013) declared that from April 2013, the local government took on a widespread concern for public health within

Obesity is an increasing issue in modern society. It has been deemed an ‘epidemic in the developed world’ and statistics (from Public Health England) show obesity in the United Kingdom has been on the rise for many years, with currently 61.9% of men and women being obese or overweight. In England alone, 1 in 4 adults (age 16 years or over) are currently obese – (25.6%) - placing more than half the adult population overweight or obese (HSE, 2014). This growing problem in developed countries is responsible for thousands of deaths each year due to a number of contributory factors.

The biopsychosocial framework help us understand whether a child is developing on track with their age delayed by “one useful way to organize the biological, psychological, and sociocultural forces on human development” (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2016, p. 8). The biopsychosocial framework works is useful by helping understand what forces affect the development that consists of biological forces, psychological forces, sociocultural forces and lifecycle forces. These are really important to the child development to track with their age or delayed if any. Biological forces are based on the genetic and health related that might affect the development. Psychological forces are based on the cognitive, emotional and personality

What is health, is it the absence of illness, the ability to run a marathon, or even healthy eating habits? Health can be defined as multiple things and can vary among people and the type of health that may be discussed. For majority of people here in America, health is defined as the absence of disease, injury, slow pulse, or the ability to perform physical activities (Gurung, 2014). In health psychology, there is two models to explain how health can be defined; the biopsychosocial model and biomedical model. Through both models there is similarities and differences that contribute to the concept of health within the psychology world.

This essay aims to discover and analyse adult obesity as a challenging public health issue in England as it has a detrimental effect on the society. The rationale for choosing adult obesity as a public health issue is to comprehend and develop the knowledge of obesity and its impact on individual’s health and wellbeing to better meet the needs of an obese adult in clinical practice. Obesity will be defined, its trends and the biopsychosocial factors that contribute to an individual’s health and wellbeing will be discussed along with the health inequalities. Furthermore, this assignment will highlight relevant policies and legislation aimed at addressing the health risk and needs of an obese adult. Lastly, this essay will explain the role of a nurse in both promoting and assessing of the health requirements of obese adult and then the conclusion will be drawn summarising the key points of the essay.

There are numerous factors that have impact on individual’s choices in their life. These factors may be influenced by physical setting, organisations within the community or characteristics of people in the community. People can become obese for several reasons and the ecological approach explains some of these reasons.

Obesity is a medical condition, in which a person’s excessive body fat accumulates to a point where it may have a negative impact on their health causing serious illness, disability and premature death. In Australia the rate of obesity has gradually increased over time, where in 2011-2012 it was found that 35.3% Australians aged 18 and over were overweight and 27.5% obese. (WHO reference)This health condition is the outcome of a range of social determinants that warrant attention. However this report will focus on and discuss two social determinants that could conceivably lead to obesity or being overweight.

When thinking of public health in regards specifically to obesity, a study into maternal obesity and the long-term health of the offspring, found that ‘maternal obesity has been associated with a number of long-term adverse health outcomes in the offspring, including lifelong risk of obesity and metabolic dysregulation with increased insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, as well as behavioural problems and risk of asthma’ (O’Reilly et al, 2012:1), this highlights to us the implications not just to mother, but the long term effects to her child.

This assignment will examine the relationship between social determinants of health in obesity, and its significance as a public health issue on a local, regional, national and international scale. The essay will first consider what is obesity, and why it has become such a major problem within England, and locally in the North West. Secondly, the epidemiology and causes will be explored, addressing issues such as diseases linked to obesity, and the affects it has on society and the economy by drawing on statistics and current trends. Next, it will closely examine both the modifiable, and unalterable issues of contemporary social determinants. This will be followed by how these problems are addressed in relation to regional, national and global policies and

At the present time, the patient has two of the risk factors for heart disease, genetic predisposition, and obesity. The first risk factor, genetic disposition, is non-modifiable, however, the second, obesity, is a modifiable risk factor. The nursing diagnosis that can be applied in this situation is imbalanced nutrition: more that body requirements, evidenced by weight is more than 20% over ideal for height and frame, triceps skinfold >25mm in women and, sedentary lifestyle. The desired outcome for this individual is to demonstrate a change in eating patterns to attain desirable body weight with optimal maintenance of health, as well as to initiate and maintain an individually appropriate exercise program. Nursing interventions for this client should be (1) determine client’s desire to lose weight, (2) review usual daily caloric intake and dietary choices, (3) establish a realistic weight-reduction plan with the client, (4) encourage client to maintain a food diary that includes when and where eating takes place and the circumstances and feelings around which the food was eaten, and (5) refer to dietitian or weight management program (Doenges, Moorhouse, & Murr,

I will be researching childhood obesity in the United to states because I want to better understand the cause's and how it can be prevented.  I have chosen to research childhood obesity to help my readers understand the influence they may have in children's lives and in their future. By asking questions such as, when does the onset of child hood obesity occur, I hope to find out what social institutions play the biggest role. With social institutions comes the question of relevance of socioeconomic status, and the impact that has. I lastly will be asking the question of the long term effects of childhood obesity. My goal is to understand why so many

How can obesity be prevented? One of my co-workers eats unhealthy food and she barely engages in physical activities. I wonder how this affects her health. The risks of obesity doesn't only affect the physical health of a person but also emotional and psychological. Obesity has become a major public health challenge in the United States. Obesogenic habitat have increased due to the eating of low calorie foods of low nutritional value and the cutback of daily physical activity (e.g., the increased portion sizes of food eaten inside and outside of the home and the reduction of physical activities at home or in schools). Public health experts and personages need to know the best procedure and have the

Obesity is being hailed as a global pandemic by academics (Boyd A Swinburn, 2011) and the effects that this has on healthcare systems in the UK is of increasing concern. Not only does obesity cause issues with mobility, it also plays a large part in a multitude of health issues such as diabetes type 2, coronary heart disease, cancer, hypertension, stroke, joint problems and mental health conditions such as depression and low self-esteem. (NHS, 2016) In a report published in 2007 in a journal named Obesity Reviews, it is stated that “The direct cost of overweight and obesity to the NHS is

The World Heath Organization defines health as being a state of wholeness in a person’s mental, physical, and social well being (Gurung, 2014). Different models of health are used worldwide to assist in achieving this state. Two widely used models of health in the United States include the biomedical model of health and the biopsychosocial model of health. They both strive to help individuals and communities achieve wholeness, while approaching this in different manners. Each model of health has strengths, drawbacks, and practical uses in the field of medicine.

Childhood obesity is a disease where excess body fat affects a child's health or wellbeing. With the number of children affected by the disease increasing, it is important to understand the consequences. Not only will obesity influence a child’s physical heath, but it can also affect their emotional and social health as well. Acknowledging that obesity is a preventable disease should help lower the number of children affected by it. It is not about dieting; it is a lifestyle change that should be adopted and practiced by the whole family. Being obese increases a child's risk of being an obese adult. I will argue that parent education regarding the physical and emotional effects of childhood obesity can protect the lives of children.