Introduction
Weight-related epidemics have raised a global alarm which calls for immediate interventions to prevent future chronic problems. These epidemics are as a result of overnutrition, food insecurity and obesity with its related health problems such as; cardiovascular, diabetes diseases. Some literature review on the international strategies for overcoming the epidemics are presented, these includes; World Health Organization strategies, regulations on marketing secured food and public health policies on nutrition.
Summary of Public health and law address on obesity (Article 1)
The article is a discussion on how law can be considered in the attempt to address rising problems associated with obesity. With the application of the experiences with other bodies of public health law, an illustration on how several strategies could be formulated. The arguments on effective strategies that can be favorable approach for dealing with energy exercises and alternatively a focus on the ones that can enable energy food consumption have been analyzed. Important ideas concerning the role of public health policy in sponsoring change and the ability for it to be linked to initiatives for the achievement of a very sustainable society, are made crucial concerns by the impacts caused by obesity (Reynolds, 2004).
Article Critique (Article 1)
Obesity as a public health agenda
According to my own analysis, Reynolds’ article provides a clear indication that obesity is a new and dangerous lifestyle disease which has raised a public health concern. Today, as the author has identified, it is agreed that people are increasingly growing bigger and heavier rising in their proportional levels with the majority becoming obese. This has truly contributed to the current weight-related diseases such as; cardiovascular and diabetes health problems, which in actual sense they are substantial burdens to the victims. The increase in obesity levels is actually an area of concern for both the developing and developed countries, this has been well argued by the author as he has given an example of Australian and overseas’ governments that are seeking strategies and formulating policies to address obesity problems.
Regulating marketing and promotion
The major controversial and difficult aspect of obesity strategy is the restriction imposed on advertisement and promotion of food. Taxation is used to influence behaviors and suggestions on the advance role of nutritional policies on fresh food. Self-regulation has been considered as the most common alternative offered for regulation for instance; codes of conduct. However, the very effective regulation than the self-regulation, is the changes an industry considers to minimize its disclosure to public criticism.
Changing the environment
The author’s idea of considering the built and communal environments in shaping people’s expenditures on energy, it is not a long-lasting solution to the epidemics of obesity as people’s preferences and tastes changes in relation to the environmental changes as well. Reynolds in his view failed to realize that the ability to change these environments to cause opportunities for exercises, entirely depends on the changes in people’s preferences and taste. Ecological and planning controls organization from Reynolds’s point of view would not entirely encourage physical activities; this is because people have their own personal leisure activities. This will automatically limit on the amount of people’s responses for active policy making and inadequately make links to areas that seem to be complementary such food regulations.
Summary of global response to global problem: over nutrition epidemic (Article 2)
Estimation was made by WHO which indicates that in the coming years, some non-communicable diseases resulting from obesity will become the major worldwide causes of mortality and morbidity. The importance of diet in these noncommunicable diseases was established. Given the global extent of concern about the epidemic of obesity, the viable role of international legal means in the promotion of healthy diets and the prevention of overnutrition a suggestion for its exploration was made. The article highlights the extent as well as determinant of obesity. It also provides the underlying principle for the application of global instruments.
To conclude, over-nutrition treatment costs calls for the attention of preventive measures. There is an increased recognition that practice of prevention calls for public health immediate interventions at both international and national level. These interventions range from health education to controlled and improved marketing of food as well as drinks.
Article Critique (Article 2)
The obesogenic environment
The evaluation based on Chopra’s article highlights the fact today’s fast food restaurants and soft drink selling machines have really influenced change of eating patterns. It is not easy to reverse the unfavorable dietary trends among the people since even if price is manipulated obesogenic environment, people who are not obesity infected would still feed on the same diet (Chopra, 2002).
The WHO strategy
The efforts of WHO in making plans for public consultation process aiming at creating international strategy on diet, physical actions, it is a universal attention to the epidemics of overnutrition, and obesity which should be encouraged (Chopra, 2002).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the authors of both articles recognize overnutrition, obesity, and food insecurities as the global concerns. They also give relevant suggestions of international laws, public health policies and the WHO strategies to prevent the epidemics of weight-related problems that are suspected to be future chronic hazards.
Works Cited
Reynolds, C. (2004). Law and Public Health: Addressing obesity. Linda Crescent Publishers, Hawthorn,Victoria.
Chopra, M. A Global Response to a Global Problem: The Epidemic of Overnuitrition. World Health Organization. Bulletin of the World Health Organization; 2002; 80, 12.