Introduction
The complete health image can be understood more deeply by diverse factors. No one can deny that the social influence on health is significant, where the better health and higher quality of life of community members depend on the level of their participation in the social networks, assistance to each other, and overall change of the society to become more healthy and prosperous (Izevbigie, 2008).
In the UK community, such social networks usually include the family, friends, neighbors, church, work, sports clubs, and other social groups where people can exchange information, experience, and advice.
Those social networks are also considered as reference groups whom a person can consult on any decision and by whom such person can be influenced either in a positive or negative way.
Such influence is characterized by the following criteria:
- density, which is the extent to which people know each other;
- reciprocity, which is mutual sharing;
- intensity, which identifies the frequency of interactions between community members;
- dispersion, which suggests how easily members contact each other;
- functional social support, under which people provide assistance, contacts, and resources to help each other
Obesity
Obesity might easily be transformed through the life span into even greater health-related risks, namely, high blood pressure, a great likelihood of heart disease, asthma and even Type II diabetes that was previously known as a particularly adult disease.
Aside from serious consequences considering health conditions, there might appear a risk of total social isolation due to social discrimination, depression, and low self-esteem.
In the UK, this becomes a national problem because around 20% of the population are clinically obese which results in extra 300,000 deaths each year (Clinical Guardlines,2006).
There has been a significant increase from 4% in 6-11-year-old boys and girls in 1990s to 11% in boys and 10% in girls in 2000. Similar increases are evident for the 12-17-year-old group.
Childhood obesity is also associated with hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, and early symptoms of type 2 diabetes (Eating Disorders Statistics 2010).
Prevention
Physical activity among children and adolescents is a must for the normal development of a young growing organism and losing weight.
Due to technological development that has greatly contributed to the decrease in physical activity, children became passive and unmotivated. That is why a child needs to become physically active, providing positive effects not only on the body weight but also on the bone strength and especially blood pressure.
The second strategy is throughout an increasing number of schools are also encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors (Obesity in Adults, 2006).
A significant drop in physical activity engagement in schools was noticed over the last several years.
Following Watson, when total body weight is more than 25 percent fat in boys and more than 32 percent fat in girls there is clear evidence of an overweight condition that soon may cause more serious consequences.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder when people starve themselves since they are convinced they are overweight despite in reality having extreme weight loss of 15% below the person’s normal body weight.
Causing such negative side effects as irregular heartbeat, mineral loss, shrunken bones, and others anorexia can lead to hospitalization, harmed body functioning, and even death (Shelley, 2006).
That is why it is vitally important to identify anorexia symptoms at the beginning stage of this eating disorder to be able to heal it and prevent further harmful effects.
Anorexia nervosa is an adolescent phenomenon. It has an estimated incidence ranging from 0.5 percent among females aged 12 to 18 years to 1 percent among girls between the ages of 16 and 18 (Treasure, 2003 ).
“In the UK, 1 in 100 women aged between 15 and 30, suffers from anorexia. Reports show girls as young as five years of age have weight concerns and think about going on a diet” (Eating Disorders Statistics 2010).
Interventions
Two types of treatment are:
- Medical interventions
- Psychological interventions
- Following Roger’s theory, while some symptoms are obvious both for the person him/herself and others around (nervousness, physical dependence on alcohol or drugs, etc), other symptoms are rather difficult to recognize. Usually, people use schemas as the organized ways to look at things and people that influence a person’s expectations, behavior, etc. (Treasure, 2003 ).
Intervention should involve:
- Education policies and health-conscious programs
- Programs for the development of a positive self-image and recognition of personal importance.
Conclusion
Culture and gender have their own influences on health care since the person’s socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, and other factors directly affect his/her perception of the disease, necessity, or financial ability to seek appropriate treatment.
It is obvious that those people who live in poverty or from low socioeconomic status receive less medical help than those with stable income and medical coverage.
In multi-ethnical communities, the doctors can influence the patients by learning and understanding the beliefs, attitudes, and experiences of patients from different ethnical groups and nationalities.
The influence of gender on health care can be observed while analyzing the female and male patients, their attitudes and behaviors, where men are usually direct and logical decision-makers and women are less independent and more influenced by others.
References
Eating Disorders statistics the UK. (2010). Web.
Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults (2006) National Heart, Lung and Blodd Inst. Web.
Izevbigie, T.I.O. (2008). Eating Disorders and Personality Profile of Female Secondary Schools Students in Benin Metropolis, Nigeria. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 33 (1); 152.
Shelley, R. (2006). Anorexics on Anorexia. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Treasure, J. (2003). Breaking Free from Anorexia Nervosa: A Survival Guide for Families, Friends and Sufferers. Psychology Press Ltd.