Introduction
Public health issues are becoming more acute nowadays owing to the environmental changes, preferences, and lifestyles of individuals. Consequently, many outlets and authorities have shifted their focus toward solutions. The documentary Designing Healthy Communities is designed to emphasize the need for change. Thus, Episode 1 highlights the epidemic of diabetes and how the designs of communities and their lifestyles should be modified to ensure a healthy nation.
Episode Summary
The episode “Retrofitting Suburbia” examines how growth in suburban areas and the rising incidence of diabetes caused by obesity are related. Since obesity is the main contributory factor of diabetes, which is rapidly becoming a major public health concern, the documentary goes into great detail on how it affects the lives of Americans. The narrator argues that if people are to make any significant progress toward improving their health, a change to the environment must be made (Bell & Wiland, 2012). By comprehending and minimizing the upstream reasons that are connected with poor choices, the episode aims to fight dangerous diseases, including diabetes, and aid the country.
Connection to Textbook Concepts
The material illuminated in the episode correlates with the information provided in the first chapters of the textbook Key Concepts in Public Health. For instance, Chapter 2 focuses on modern public health policies and procedures, and they must be able to adapt to changes in the economy, population, and epidemiology while still allowing for day-to-day operations (Adshead & Thorpe, 2008). Similarly, the documentary emphasizes the importance of cooperation between communities and authorities in order to bring change.
In turn, Chapter 3 gives an in-depth analysis of social determinants of health. Social determinants, such as housing, transportation, and the built environment, frequently have a more significant influence on population health status (Sengupta, 2008). Indeed, the documentary highlights that nowadays, more families who live in suburban areas are forced to use vehicles to commute to cities (Bell & Wiland, 2012). By living in polluted areas and having low activity, poor dietary habits, and poor communication, people become more susceptible to diseases, including obesity (Bell & Wiland, 2012). Overall, the disciplines within public health which are evident both in the textbook and the documentary involve epidemiology, biostatistics, and environmental health.
Evaluation of Information Presented
After watching the episode, it can be argued that the presented information is valid and easy to understand. On the one hand, experts deliver statistics on diabetes and obesity to give the audience a clear picture of public health issues. For example, when discussing air pollution, one expert, Richard Jackson, points to the fact that 90% of Atlanta’s residents reside in outer suburban areas (Bell & Wiland, 2012). As a result, with an average resident in the area driving 66 miles per day, higher levels of air pollution may be seen (Bell & Wiland, 2012).
On the other hand, first-hand accounts are used to demonstrate various opinions. For instance, Raymond Huff, a man diagnosed with diabetes, shares his experience with the condition and gangrene (Bell & Wiland, 2012). Thus, such approaches not only show the validity and credibility of information but make the material easy to understand.
Insights on Public Health Issues
The episode focuses on several issues, including obesity, diabetes, pollution, and low physical activity, and how the issues are interconnected. Starting with the problems concerning obesity and diabetes, the narrators shift toward the main causes, including low physical activity due to high dependence on automobiles (Bell & Wiland, 2012). Meanwhile, with the majority living in suburban areas, such issues lead to high pollution levels, which tends to bring other risks and comorbidities (Bell & Wiland, 2012). Consequently, the way to measure the number of those influenced by such issues is to look at the prevalence of diabetes and obesity, which now affects not only adults but children as well (Bell & Wiland, 2012).
Community and Public Health
The video emphasizes that the overall nature of the communities is to blame since it is designed in a way that people require cars for commuting (Bell & Wiland, 2012). After delving deeper into the concerns, the episode offers several ways in which the risks can be mitigated. In general, more reliance on walking, bicycling, and public transportation is encouraged in the episode (Bell & Wiland, 2012). As a result, this emphasizes that improvement in the quality of life and eradication of epidemics requires collective effort.
Content Gaps and Future Recommendations
After watching the episode, I believe that the engagement of public officials and their insights and recommendations is required. Although all stakeholders shared their insights and experiences, the content could be improved by including the opinions of local NGOs and authorities to explain the issue and interventions. In future episodes, I would like to see more insights into mental health or infectious diseases and how they relate to community design.
Conclusion
Hence, in the first episode, the diabetes epidemic and suggestions for altering lifestyles and community planning to promote national health are highlighted. The episode looks at the connection between suburban expansion and the rise in diabetes cases brought on by obesity. The episode focuses on a number of problems, such as obesity, diabetes, pollution, and a lack of physical activity, as well as how these problems are related.
References
Adshead, F., & Thorpe, A. (2008). Modern public health. In Mabhala, A. and Wilson, F. (Eds.), Key concepts in public health (pp.11-15). SAGE Publications.
Bell, D. & Wiland, H. (Directors). (2012). Retrofitting suburbia [Video]. The Video Project. Web.
Sengupta, S. (2008). Determinants of health. In Mabhala, A. and Wilson, F. (Eds.), Key concepts in public health (pp.15-21). SAGE Publications.