Adult Obesity in CT Hamden High School
Obesity is one of the health conditions in the United States, which continues to draw massive attention globally. Primarily, the disease is currently characterized as an epidemic. Indeed, it is a predisposing factor to the development of diverse conditions. For example, obesity makes an individual prone to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer among others (Moores, 2018). The condition has also been viewed to negatively affect the labor market. People with obesity are less productive compared to those who are fit. Consequently, it is critical to explore the subject. People are considered obese when their body mass index is 30 or above (Moores, 2018). Fatness has been attributed to the fact that a person consumes more calories than one can burn in daily activities. Consequently, the extra calories pile up and lead to an excessive increase in weight. High school students form the adult population of the nation of America. Therefore, it is imperative to explore obesity among the high school population. Hence, this project examines obesity in Connecticut Hamden High School as a critical health issue and outlines nutrition, physical activities, and exercises as primary intervention strategies.
U.S. Obesity Statistics
The recent research by the CDC (2018) indicated that in 2015-2016, the obesity rate was 39.8%. This means that 93.3 million American adults are considered to be clinically obese. On the other hand, 18.5% (13.7 million) of children have also been assumed to suffer from obesity. Significantly, CDC (2018) reports that obesity-related diseases such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes are among the first causes of death in the country. Moreover, the estimated medical cost associated with obesity in the United States stands at $147 billion (CDC, 2018). In addition, the prevalence of obesity among adults aged 20-39 in the United States is 35.7% (CDC, 2018). Among the middle age, it is 42.8%, while among the elderly it is 41.0%. CDC (2018) also studies obesity according to race. Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks show a higher prevalence of obesity standing at 47% and 46.8% respectively (United Health Foundation, 2018). They are followed by non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic Asians with a prevalence of 37.9% and 12.7% respectively (United Health Foundation, 2018).
Exploration of Various States
An exploration of different states in the United States reveals that adult obesity rates go above 35% in at least seven states. This is followed by 30% that characterize 29 states and 25% in an estimated 48 regions (United Health Foundation, 2018). West Virginia is said to have the highest adult obesity rate standing at 38.1%. On the contrary, Colorado has the lowest index with a rating of 22.6%. CDC (2018) also reports that obesity has increased steadfastly in such states as Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Iowa. Nevertheless, it has remained significantly lower in the rest of the states.
Connecticut Statistics and Comparison to Another State
The state of obesity in Connecticut is an issue that has become very important in a state of the United States. The research shows that Connecticut is ranked 10th in the American obesity rating (United Health Foundation, 2018). However, the prevalence of fatness has increased over the past two decades. According to the CDC (2018), Connecticut’s adult obesity is currently at 26.9% (City-Data.com, 2018). This is high compared to 16.0% in 2000 and 10.4% in 1990 (City-Data.com, 2018). The trend is further exemplified by the available data on obesity-related diseases affecting Connecticut’s population (The State of Obesity, 2018). For example, the index of adult hypertension is 30.5%, while diabetes is 9.8% (United Health Foundation, 2018). It is quite high, especially when comparing obesity in Connecticut and Florida. Unlike Connecticut, obesity in Florida has been on the decline in the recent past. In fact, the state comes 15th in the American obesity ranking. Its prevalence decreased by 30% (U.S. News & World Report L.P., 2018). Health experts attribute such changes to the lifestyle transformation among adults. Nevertheless, obesity among children in Florida continues to grow. This is connected with the inactive way of life that characterizes many young people.
Obesity in CT Hamden High School
Obesity in Hamden High School is a subject that has not been studied. There is no publicized data on the prevalence of obesity within the school. Nevertheless, the population at Hamden High School has become a critical public for fatness due to the statistics of obesity in Connecticut. As a learning institution in the greater Connecticut state, the adult population in the school is susceptible to obesity because of a number of factors. First, there is a dormant lifestyle that many lives thrive on. They spend most of their time seated in class, in group discussions, and chatting on social media platforms. Consequently, they rarely take part in physical activities, which decreases their metabolism. However, there is a small population that actively takes part in games. Hamden High School is also marked by fast-food restaurants in its vicinity. Adults who are in a rush to catch up with classes mostly tend to take fast food. Fast foods, such as chips, hamburgers, and fried chicken among others have been known to increase the caloric intake of people. However, there are people who genetically are born obese. Therefore, such people should wrestle with other lifestyle changes in their desire to deal with obesity.
Significance and Relevance
All over the world, the subject of obesity remains a critical health problem. The United States contributes to the devastating figures that make up the global population of obese people. The project that regards adult obesity in High school is of great significance because of its implication to the immediate society. First, the project gives room for the establishment of the defined prevalence of obesity in the institution. Secondly, the project is relevant, as it will inform policymakers within institutions. Consequently, they will create policies that are needed to promote a healthy lifestyle while in a learning institution. Despite the implications, there are knowledge gaps in the field. While several studies have been conducted on obesity, there is little information on the most effective way to cut weight. People give suggestions on nutrition, exercise, and physical activities. However, none of the three is significantly outlined to work independently. Secondly, the data on Connecticut City is generalized. This project allows us to focus on one educational institution.
The significance of my project further emanates from the workshop experience that I will carry out. Primarily, the project entails a strategy to prevent obesity in Hamden high School. It will be carried out through six to eight sessions every evening after school. The strategy will involve theoretical and practical learning. The theoretical aspect involves teaching the school population about healthy diets and their benefits. I will use video and animation materials to elaborate and remind people of some of the healthy foods that are no longer fashionable in society. In addition, I will remind them to lead an active lifestyle. At this stage, I plan to introduce the ‘walk to work’ concept. The concept aims at encouraging people to walk as a means of moving to work or class. It will help them stay fit. Finally, there will be a short session of basic exercises that can be done at home. This will act as a startup pack on exercises. Moreover, it will illustrate the various techniques of carrying out body exercises for the population.
The project will be useful for various reasons. First, it will be a primary source of knowledge on healthy types of diets. Although people are aware of the need to eat healthily, they rarely take time to consider the variety of foods they can incorporate into their diet to make their meals. Consequently, the project will provide experiential examples of food, diet planning, and the benefits of their consumption. Secondly, the project will inform people about easy ways of leading an active life without the need to engage in a gym. The introduction of the walk-to-work concept will provide a practical strategy to help people engage in physical activities without spending their finances. Finally, the plan will highlight exercises that can be done without the involvement of an expert. The aim is to help people consider a healthy lifestyle without an effect on their finances.
Overall, this project is useful as an intervention strategy for obesity. It is embedded in the fact that the growing tendency of obesity poses a real health problem for the immediate population. Moreover, the number of deaths that emanate from obesity cannot be overlooked. The project focuses on the immediate school population rather than on the entire Connecticut state. The project, through the six to eight workshop sessions, seeks to provide a realistic and achievable strategy for the population of Hamden High School. The main nuggets are a healthy diet, physical activities, and exercise. The uptake of the strategies will ensure a decline in obesity levels in the institution.