Introduction
With increased technology and extensive studies in the field of medical services, many changes have been proposed concerning the best practice or alternatives for treating patients since health is a very sensitive issue. For this reasons, those practices that are founded on concrete evidence are usually very admissible by many practitioners. Experts also insist that the best care should be founded on evidence. In this way, the use of evidence based practices demands the decision about a health care issue or system be founded on the best alternative available, that is recent, valid and there should be appropriate evidence to back the decision. The decisions in these cases are madder by the patients and they are founded on the knowledge they obtained un-stated from the practitioners within the framework of the available resources.
The Clinical Question
The basis of the discussion here will be to provide evidence basis for the most effective health promotion activity that is specifically related to physical activities and the need of a healthy and active community (Cavill 105). The current developments in the medical care, research requires that any conclusions that will be drawn from a study be supported with extensive scientific knowledge (Bauman et al.176). This is called evidence based practice in the field of medicine. Under this model, doctors and other medical practitioners are required to prepare clinical research subject of the matter or question in the form of the Problem targeting a particular Population, the possible and subsequently narrowing to the best Intervention, making Comparison of the intervention and then reporting the outcomes (Keleher & MacDougall 6). These elements form a model referred to as the PICO paradigm. This guideline is very important in medicine especially clinical investigations and helps to structure clinical questions and to present doctors’ information (Bauman et al.176). PICO structure is fundamentally focused on therapy questions and not very useful in presentation of other types on medical information (Pate 404).
This study identifies the health issue at hand to be health promotion priority focusing specifically on the physical activities. The populations that are most vulnerable to such health problems are the women and the very small children. The outcomes of missing physical exercise can be very grave since lack of exercise is usually a risk factor for a series of serious medial condition among them the cardiovascular problems (Talbot & Verinder 89). The comparison is to link the disease occurrence among the healthy individual who take regular exercises versus those who do not get time for exercise and hence are very inactive (Keleher & MacDougall 6). The outcomes of such studies would basically rely on the disease occurrence for retrospective studies and prospective researches.
Action to be taken
The world is increasing its knowledge of attaining a healthy living whereby disease cases will, be controlled before they appear by eating well and exercising (Keleher & Murphy 34). As interests in scientific research also increase, there are more studies that put more emphasis on enhancement of the physical activity as a major way of attaining better health. Physically active life is very important and there is evidence at personal level and even at community level (Talbot & Verinder 89). Physical inactivity on the other hand is become a major health problem in Australia and the world at large. Though organization sporting activities for all has faced a better share of problems, Very few examples can be found for reference as being long-standing, integrated physical activity support approach (Haskell et al. 1082). Whereas sports for everyone have a very long history, the have been very less strategies developed recently in Europe and even in Australia (AIHW 78). Several nations are now beginning to develop their own strategies that they deem will be deficient considering that the global standards may not apply in certain areas (Naidoo & Wills 111). Nonetheless, there is also lack of the strong platform that can allow even bigger development of the plans and also sharing of the evidence based activities. In an attempt to close the widening gap, Australia has even tried to create a national that will embrace activity (Keleher & MacDougall 14). The aim of the system would then be strengthen and offer more support to participation. The available evidence would then be of great impact in influencing even more organization that are wiling to campaign form physical exercises to prevent inactive society (Haskell et al. 1082).
It can still be described that physical activity entails activities such as sport, active recreational undertaking, active transport and work related activities which help in maintaining a healthy body (Naidoo & Wills 111). The physical health benefits of indulging in physical activity include having better and lower blood pressure and cholesterol, healthy body weight and reduced risk of suffering bone fractures. Physical inactivity result in obesity, this is especially common among women (Keleher & Murphy 35). Also, Obesity related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, bone problem (osteoporosis), coronary heart disease and gestational diabetes may affect the individuals (Roddy, 67; Marks 186). In 2008, around 316,000 women had type 2 diabetes while another 12, 400 pregnant mothers had gestational diabetes in Australia (AIHW 78). Chronic diseases associated with physical inactivity account for around 1.9 millions related deaths globally (Bennell & Hinman 634). It is estimated that around 30% of Australian women are overweight while a further 24% are suffering from obesity (Fogelholm & Kukkonen-Harjula 96). Victorian women are at a higher risk of developing a hormonal disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome, which is believed to directly affect more than 9% of Australian women (AIHW 84). The total cost to the health care for treating disorders associated with physical inactivity is around $ 1.5 billion.
The Heath Response
The endeavour to have a healthy life is basically a personal goal yet there are many interventional programs that have been adopted by communities since is quite obvious that the bad outcomes would still impact on the society in the long run. However, as identified from above section and from previous researches, regular physical activities are very vital for developing healthy lifestyle and attaining a better quality of life (Keleher & Murphy 36). The landmark contribution to this idea was the 1996 report about the implications of physical; activities on health. This report indicated that there were moderates amounts of physical activities that were required of an individual to gain significant health benefits (Haskell et al. 1082). The benefits indicated in the report included decreased risk of premature deaths and reduced morbidity of any of the common illnesses particularly the obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes and heart disease (Naidoo & Wills 112). Furthermore, mere physical activity was an efficient way of treating many of these common chronic illnesses.
Regardless of the fact that only a moderates amount of engagement in physical activity is needed to be able to reap a substantial amount of health benefits, there are very few Australians that are engaged in physical activities for health’s sake (Bauman et. al 176). More than 50% adults do not actively involve in adequate physical activities. Most of the adult population, about a quarter is said to be inactive when they have free time at their disposal (Talbot & Verinder 91). Similar trend is getting amount the younger generations and children and adolescents are becoming very idle hence cases of child obesity are on the increase. It’s estimated that in the years 2005, at least two-thirds of the students in 9th -12th grades were actually denied they amount of physical activity they deserved (Begg et al. 142).
Playing is usually the way children attain the physical activities. Today many schools are getting over-concerned with the academic achieve of the children but forget that playing is equally important (Hands et al. 34). The participation in games in high school is about only 33% having dropped even more from the previous 42% in 1991. In spite of the abundant benefits of play, parents, teachers and policy makers are coming up with curriculum structures and restrictive rules that have greatly reduced free play time for many children (Bauman et al. 176). The effects of these trends have spread down to kindergarten children by reducing their play time to cater for serious studies. A study conducted in 1989 over elementary schools disclosed that nearly 96% of them only had one recess period (Begg et al. 142). Another survey done ten years down the line revealed that on about 70% of the kindergarten had recess period.
Recently, many schools are offering very limited free time and very few physical periods. Many schools have shifted most of the time previously allocated to physical education, recess and creative arts to focus on mathematics and reading. These changes have implicated on the children ability to retain information that they leaner in schools (Bauman et al. 176). This is because cognitive ability of student is improved by clear-cut and momentous change in the doings (Hands et al. 36). Changing from one academic subject does not really present that clear cut change required for the cognitive enhancement and unquestionably does not present physical release. Even the formal physical education period may not offer that benefit as the free play would (Fogelholm & Kukkonen-Harjula 96). The decreased time for physical activity contributes to dissonant academic abilities since schools are promoting inactive forms of learning making it very hard for the boys to flow through fruitfully (DHAC 134).
The expenses that are as a result attributed to the problems of insufficient activities are very astonishing. The public health approaches that are used by the government and other movements to prevent and control the occurrence of chronic disease having emerged from socio-ecology methods are very efficient (Brownson 345a). For instance, counselling which is an individual-level method of reducing the problem. Another method is community level and this has often included education in schools, workplaces and at healthcare facilities (Hands et al. 36). By realizing the significance of supporting the people in their decision to attain healthy behavioural characteristics and supporting safer and reachable opportunities for the incidental, daily activities, the approaches are assisting in making healthy choices. Adults are unlikely to walk their young ones to school unless, they are very sure that the routes are safe and have appropriate infrastructure like sidewalk (Begg et al. 143).
As the report addressees the problem of obesity among children, The Ottawa charter offers a very vital theoretical structure that integrates the following steps to achieve the best outcomes (Brownson 345a; Colin 215); developing special individual skills, establishing an environment that is supportive of health, reorienting the health services, strengthening the community-based solution and advocating for policy change (McCormack et al. 123). This way the solution helps the individual, the community and also gets the backing of the government.
Effective Approaches
Diet and Physical activity: It’s been proven that physical activities help in solving problems of maternal health. Children who suffered prenatal or postnatal problems in growth usually suffered more communicable diseases as they grow up. Due to better healthcare systems, the number of senior members of the society is increasing considerable (Brownson et al. 345a). However due to the fact that these members have a slightly weaker immune systems, they tend to suffer more from the communicable diseases. Besides this, maintaining the elderly working capacity is also very important and a critical element in cutting down the cost of healthcare (AIHW 86).
According to health research, the impact of physical activity on health is usually directly linked to the impact that diet would have. This is true despite the facts that the two factors act in different manner and separately in some case they act together (Gregory et al. 24). Obesity is an example where the two actors interact. Nonetheless, physical activity is as very important approach towards improvement of physical and mental healthiness of the individual and the entire society (McCormack et al. 123).
The Australian government then has a central responsibility in cooperating with other major stakeholders to establish an environment that empowers and encourages individuals to change. This way, Individual will be able to make behaviour changes and also to reach very healthy decisions and also choose best eating habits that match the exercise (KickBusch 35). It’s evidence that the non-communicable disease has already place a huge burden on the healthcare systems on which is in the first place extremely strained. It’s also important to not that health is a major precursors of improvement and economic prowess. Programs that are targeting promotion of healthy eating and involvement in physical exercises are a major tool in formulating policies to achieve the vital development goals (Donovan et al. 102).
There is a unique opportunity due to the above factors to assist in the formulation and implementation of an efficient strategy for substantially decreasing mortality and morbidity of diseases all over the world. Evidence connects the health behaviour with the diseases. The efficient intervention to allow people to have longer life expectancies and life healthier lives, reduce the injustice can be designed and executed (KickBusch 35). The main objective of this approach is to enhance global strategy and in the process to promote and safeguard healthcare by guiding and attaining an enabling situation for sustainable activities for individuals and the community (Gregory et al. 24).
The key objectives would be to decrease disease risk factors that are a consequence of unhealthy eating and inactivity; to enhance awareness for eating healthy and engaging in physical activity; and to monitor scientific information and major influences on food and physical activity (Brownson and Haire 345a).
Physical activity and general Health; this is the second alternative that can be sued to enhance the impact that physical activity will have on specific individuals and the society at large (Haskell et al. 1092). This approach takes a very broad definition of what physical activity is; it takes the whole population health and uses programs in meeting the need of the populations. This tactic with create a conducive environment for physical activities and making sure that there is equity in opportunities (Brownson 345a). The model will be founded on the underlying evidence concerning what the therapy can.
There are health effects that re observed in real practices that are very important. It’s also proven that physical activity has a great impact on some illnesses (Gregory et al 24). The impacts are not specifically limited and are specifically very beneficial for people who are overweight (Pate 404a). Diseases like diabetes can be managed very well especially the type 2 one. There is very strong evidence that when a patient with the condition engages in physical activities then severity is reduced (Rabin et al. 24). The risk of normal and active individuals is usually 30% lower.
For cardiovascular disease, there is seeing evidence that risk is reduced by twice as much and that stroke is kept at bay (Cavill 105). The overall risk of redeveloping cancers is greatly reduced when one actively engages in physical activity (Rabin et al. 24). Cancer of the breast in women at menopause is reduced considerably.
Psychological health is greatly improved when an individual actively engages in physical exercises. Signs of stress or depression even anxiety are eliminated (Gregory et al 24). Other social benefits are also attained in the process like being able to form social friends and having a positive self image about oneself.
Besides the direct outcomes, there are several other indirect benefits that come along with engaging in physical activities. People can interact with each other in active living especially in the sports arenas or on leisure destinations (Brownson 501b). Crime and other anti-social behaviour will be eliminated.
The key benefit is that when one is actively involved in physical activities, then he/she tends to be linked with several other types of constructive character like healthy eating, non-smoking and the product used to assist in impact other changes (Pate 209b). On overall people change their character to the one that will enhance health or their wellbeing.
Current Knowledge
It is only until recently that comprehensive research about physical activity and health was started. Otherwise the past decades never had comprehensive figures that could be sued as basis for decision making. About two –third of the population do not get the required amount of physical exercise (Rabin et al 24). Averagely, only 31percent of there population attained the amount of physical exercise (Roddy 67). A study among the adolescences aged 11, 13 and 15 revealed that about 34 percent had engaged in physical exercise.
To sum up this approach, the health problems are taken as problems of the community rather than targeting specific vulnerable groups (Brownson 501b). These create more opportunities for activity for every person and the environment around is improved to facilitate the exercise (Roddy 67).
By employing a broader definition of physical activity, then the approach opens up opportunities to engage a wide range of activities from different sectors. On the other hand by improving the environment for the physical activities is evident that people find it very easy to take stroll or cycle on daily basis to certain places if these places are attractive like parks.
It is usually a recommendation by experts that one should engage adequately in physical activities throughout life (Oja 238). There are different types and elevens of physical activity that are needed for various health outcomes. Regular activities need at least a period of thirty minutes with moderate intensity activities (Pate 209b). The ultimate effect is reduced risk of suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Muscles are strengthened and their functionality of enhanced. For weight control, probability more activity would be needed.
What Victorians in Australia Should Do
There is accumulating evidence from science that indeed the physical activities can have an intense impact on the health of people benefiting them in a great deal (Oja 238). Accordingly there need to be recommendations on how much activity should be done and to that extend in order to attain these benefit that are promised. There are some specific standards that are adopted worldwide by the CDC and American Sports College (Nelson et al. 1095).
On the whole there need to be some changes to the previous recommendations made earlier in 1995 about physical activities and the subsequent heath benefits. This paper shall put a little more emphasis on the vigorous-intensity activities and also will include those activities that strengthen muscles and bones. From the first assignment which dealt with some significant health issues, it was indicated that lack of physical activity was a contributing factor or a cause to the problems of osteoporosis (Nelson et al. 1095; Roddy 67). Since it was also evidence that young people were not actively involvers in physical activities as it would been expected, the paper also give recommendations to these group including middle aged adults and older ones especially women whose participation in physical activities was considerably low.
This paper adopts the 2007 AHA made recommendations that for any adult aged between 18 and 65 have to exercise for at least 30 minutes. In addition it is supposed to include engagement in moderate- intensity aerobics. These activities again go for at least five times a week for one to gain the benefits (Lindsey & Diane 78). Or one can engage in vigorous-intensity actions particularly aerobics for at least 20 minutes and these can be done at-least three days in a week (Nelson et al. 1099). It’s important to note that a combination of modest and vigorous – intensity activities can still be done to meet the same commendation. To add on these, more activity beyond the advisable can be of help to build muscle strength or health and prevent body weight increase. These recommendations still stand for older people though specific health considerations have to be put into account (Twisk 618).
Also important is the recommendations for the younger people. Accordingly, children aged between 6 years and 17 years can do at least exercise for a period of one hour on daily basis. This should include both moderate and vigorous –intensity movements (Twisk 618). These activities are muscle and bone strengthening. This Australian recommendation of one hour is at least in line with the US though Canadian call for 90 minutes. The past recommendation were mainly based on very little evidence but the research conducted by the US DHHS offered better evidence that was well assessed (US Department of Health 212). By recommending at least 30 minutes of exercise per week is meant to allow the flexibility in time and the individuals to be able to build up or spread the amount of physical activity in a diverse and suitable manner (Oja 238). The spreads also held shun incidences of too big single doses but rather to fit every individual’s varied way of getting the best time besides other weekly undertakings (US DHHS, 212).Of essence is that the recommendations borrow from the fact that some form of activity is worth none at all. More health benefits normally come as the intensity, duration and frequency of exertion increases (Rabin et al. 24).It is evident that the benefits of exercising are more than the health risks and health benefits and more so are independent of gender and race. According to the Ottawa charter, being able to adopt a new lifestyle is very effective in changing the health situation of an individual (Colin 217). This means that its possible to prevent risks that predispose people to falls, hypertension and obesity especially among children as this is emerging as a serious concern in modern world where fast food are consumed extensively with very little exertion (Colin 217). Heart diseases will be a problem of the past (CDC 952).
Conclusion
The health problems are on the increase especially the cardiovascular type, diabetes and cancers. This is because of the current lifestyles that have been adopted by this generation. The percentage of the population involved in physical activity and the numbers of active communities are dismally low. This is supported by data from National Health Surveys in the last decade. Lack of physical activity is a societal determinant with a capability of producing dangerous risks to individuals and the population. However scientific evidence has shown that these can be reduced by simply engaging in regular physical exercise.
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