JOURNAL: PERSONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH

Obesity is a chronic disease that is attacking our populations at all age groups. Our children are developing diseases like type two diabetes early in life instead of in adulthood like their predecessors. Obesity results from more than one factor or a complex set of factors affecting the individual (CDC, 2017). These factors may include dietary patterns, poor behaviors, environment, physical inactivity, family influence, and many other exposures (CDC, 2017). Obesity has become such a serious issue because of its ability to reduce the quality of life and the diseases associated with or acquired as a result of obesity are the leading causes of death in the US (CDC, 2017). Not only does obesity affect your physical health but, also your mental health and social abilities. This obesity epidemic isn’t exclusive to the United States but, it has become a worldwide issue (CDC, 2017). 
              As time goes on and people are more aware of the obesity issue and how serious it is, many individuals have uncovered some key aspects that we can use to intervene and make changes. One aspect that has gained a lot of focus is the environment and how the community impacts obesity. Community impact can actually go two ways, either positive or negative. One example that was given by the CDC was that many individuals may choose not to walk to the store because of a lack of sidewalks in their community (CDC, 2017). This is a negative impact that has to do with having access to the proper resources. Schools, childcare centers, workplaces, and homes are all a part of the community and can ha e an impact on obesity. Children spend many hours a day in childcare and eat at least two meals so the behaviors introduced while their can either benefit or hinder a child. If only high calorie or junk food is served then, the children won’t have access to healthy nutritious food while there and it will cause excess weight gain. To elaborate on having access to healthy food, there are neighborhoods that only have convenient stores nearby which limits their access. 
            The 3-4-50 framework is a good tool to apply to obesity to help increase the understanding of the issue. The three stands for 3 behaviors that leads to the second bullet. The four stands for 4 diseases that result in the last bullet. Lastly the 50 is a representation of the percentage of deaths due to the diseases. I used the exact same pattern for the framework and applied it to the issue of obesity. Three behaviors that lead to the 4 diseases is: high calorie intake with low energy output, poor diet/unhealthy eating/ overeating, and little physical activity/ no physical activity. The four diseases that lead to death is obesity, type two diabetes, heart diseases/ stroke, and high blood pressure and cholesterol. Lastly, those 4 diseases accounts for at least 50 percent of deaths in Texas. This is my updated 3-4-50 framework. 

Resources

CDC. (2017, August 29). Overweight & Obesity. Retrieved June 3, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html