POPLHLTH 717 ASSIGNMENT 1 THE FAMILY AND LIFECOURSE IN CONTEXT

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Obesity is one of the most important modifiable risk factor for a number of diseases. It has increased prevalence in New Zealand population since few years and is point of concern. According to the survey of 2006-07 New Zealand and survey it was found that one in 4 adults were obese 41.7 % of Maori adults were obese, 60% of pacific were obsesses, so the government has started interventions in order n to eliminate the obesity which including healthy eating healthy action program SPARC and physical activity sector interaction of green prescriptions etc. The issue of obesity in New Zealand will be discussed from the point of sociological dimensions sociological determinations of health with various effects that it can have in different domains and levels of society. Social determinant is the first domain that is related to the issue of obesity at its micro level ethnicity education deprivation level income and employment status can effect obesity (Lee Mullan Harris,Gordon-Larsen,2009) As per survey it is known that the Maoris and pacific population have high obesity level than New Zealand (Robson,Cormack & Cram 2007). More over socio economic conditions like lack of education or lower level of education, less number of opportunities of employment low standard of living .living under discrimination have found in obese individuals (lee Mullan Harris,Gordon-Larsen,2009).At meso level standard of maintaining healthy lifestyle is important. Due to low standard of living people are unable to afford to go to gyms as the cost of it is above their range further more loss of affordability in purchasing in healthy food which are rich and protein ,carbohydrates ,fiber contributing them to unhealthy life style leading to obese. (Lawerence,Hazlett & Hightower,2010).At micro level historical disparities are important ,due to impact of colonization inequalities between Maori and non Maori new Zealanders effected Maorians badly, as they are treated as second class citizens and enjoying very limited health services (Reid and Robson 2007). Social Construction Microlevel :- At this level thought process of people is considerable .obese people categorize themselves in a permanent obese state .these negative perceptions means these obese individuals see themselves in that constant state as they are unable to do change physically and the top of that they are ill treated in the society where ever they go (Cameron ,Norgon Ellision ,2006).Health issues like mental health such as depression mood swings are the risks which obese individuals face (Cameron ,Norgon Ellision ,2006).Moreover if they are not successful in loosing weight after many attempts , this results in uninterested and loss of motivation in future attempts performing such exercises ultimately making them to prone to obese.

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Mesolevel: Health professionals play an important role ,obese people comment that the behavior of doctors towards these obese is not constructive there are discouraging by indirectly contributing to weight gain instead of loss of weight due to their un supportive environment these obese individuals report victimization is common. For example in public places strangers pass negative comments, being stared at, are the common problems which obese individuals face. (Cameron ,Norgon Ellision ,2006). Macro level: As this is a broader level of social construction , interpretation of obesity is purely related It is societies prerogative to think that obesity is due to individuals choice .Therefore environment rarely place role in loss of weight further more from the genetic point of view obesity has cyclic nature that is obese individuals reproduce obese children. Which leads them to live life under discrimination and loss of opportunity in various aspects.(Ferraro ,Thrope & Wilkison,2003). Last but not the least discussion leads to social organization .At micro level social organization is creating obesogenic environment, which defines life patterns of an individual .In todays busy life style people hardly find time to prepare healthy food at home and they tend to eat outside this results in increase out of home dining and snacks between meals which ultimately contributing to obesity .( Cameron ,Norgon Ellision ,2006). At meso level social organizations perception of danger is more important . the perception of danger is seen in both school going children and neighborhood areas ,as the children are driven to school by their parents leading them to physically inactive and enable to utilize outdoors. This ultimately affects children health leading to obesity. (Lawerence,Hazlett & Hightower,2010).Finally at macro level due to lack of implementation of government policies and council provisions in reducing obesity is to be addressed to fight against increasing incidence of obesity in New Zealand . Increasing the availability of cheap, healthy food more accessible physical activity such as play grounds parks would help to reduce obesogenic environments. (Lawerence,Hazlett & Hightower,2010). The above mentioned analysis has briefly shown how the domains and levels of social determination, social construction and social organization plays important role in understanding the basis of increasing trend of obesity in New Zealand. So government strategies should be developed and implemented in such a way that it should consider the above factors in reducing the incidence of obesity in New Zealand.

POPLHLTH 717 ASSIGNMENT 1 REFERENCE LIST

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Cameron ,Norgon Ellision ,2006.child hood obesity :Contemporary issues. Boca Raton .CRC Press. Ferraro ,Thrope & Wilkison,2003. The life course of severe obesity : Does childhood overweight matter? Journal of Gerontology :Social sciences,58B (2),110-119. Lawerence,Hazlett & Hightower,2010 .Understanding and acting on the growing childhood and adolescent weight crisis: A role for social work. Health and social work ,35(2),147-153. Lee Mullan Harris,Gordon-Larsen,2009 .Life course perspectives on the links between poverty and obesity during the translation to young adulthood. Population research and policy review ,28,505-532. Reid and Robson 2007 . Understanding health inequalities. In B.Robson ,& R.Harris (Eds),Hauora :Maori standards of health IV .A study of the years 2000-2005 (pp 3-10).Wellington :Te Ropu Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pomare. www.moh.govt.nz (ministry of Health New Zealand).