Health determinants influence the experiences that people have when they seek professional help. Certain factors such as socioeconomic environment, physical surroundings, and individual’s distinct characteristics and behaviors determine one’s well-being.  Health outcome disparities can occur across people with a specific healthcare problem (Hsu, Bryant, Partlow, & Hayes-Bautista, 2018, 1394). The differences in patient outcomes may persist despite receiving standardized medical care. Though patients have direct control over factors that require personal interventions, they lack power over other elements such as access to high-quality health services. People’s medical experiences are essential in the health sector as they help one to understand more about certain aspects of a disease or the system in general.

The reflection focuses on the health journey of a friend who has struggled with obesity for some years. At the onset of the condition, everything seems to be normal despite the gradual increase in body mass. However, over time, the body changes have triggered numerous health complications. The disease has impacted his self-esteem, eating habits, and interpersonal communication skills. The situation prompted him to seek for professional help. Unfortunately, two years later, he has made little progress in mitigating obesity-related risks. His condition has exposed him to stigmatization, ridicule, and rejection. Weight-related discrimination leads to weak social ties, poor health behavior, and decreased physical activity (Djalalinia, Qorbani, Peykari, & Kelishadi, 2015, 241). Thus, obesity has drastically influenced the quality of his health and social life.

My interest in this experience is to gain basic knowledge on various health issues associated with obesity. It will allow me to provide necessary support beyond the health care aid. Environment, society, individual’s traits, and medical care have an impact on one treatment outcomes (Etches, Frank, Ruggiero, & Manuel, 2006, 32). It is essential to learn how they impact an individual’s ability to manage obesity. Besides, they contribute to the development of chronic illnesses associated with overweight. Poor management of the disease increases susceptibility to health complications such as heart disease, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, osteoarthritis, cancer, stroke, and pulmonary embolism (Djalalinia et al., 2015, 239). Thus, the experience will help me to understand the association between obesity and occurrence of chronic medical problems, and possible effective interventions to reduce the risks.

Also, I am interested in understanding the role, responsibility, and impact of the primary healthcare providers in the treatment and regulation of the condition. Besides, I would like to establish the ease with which obese patients can access quality patient care services. Healthcare institutions such as community clinics play a crucial role in determining health outcomes since they have the ability to take action of their surroundings (Hsu et al., 2018, 1397). Community agencies are essential in addressing issues such as unhealthy living conditions and high-risk behaviors (Hsu et al., 2018, 1397). Their role is critical in the treatment and management of obesity. However, material and human resource shortage in the health sector reduces the quality of patient care provided by different agencies. Thus, it will be essential to examine the effectiveness of health agencies in providing patient care, considering the inadequacy of primary resources across the sector.

Gaining adequate knowledge of the condition will enable me to offer appropriate support to my friend and other people with the same problem. It is vital to understand how specific indicators improve or deteriorate a person’s health status. Medical practitioners receive training that enables them to identify these aspects (Etches et al., 2006, 31). Thus, they can detect and address any concern promptly. However, based on observations I have made from my friend’s situation, health professionals do not fully utilize their ability. The deficit arises from failure by patients to seek professional assistance on time. Also, lack of sufficient information from family members limits practitioners’ ability to improve the patients’ recovery process. Therefore, I hope to gain knowledge that will contribute to a better, long-term outcome.

I am interested in learning more about the work of medical professional and healthcare setting in meeting the needs of the obese population. It is essential to understand how the health system provides crucial services to this group of patients. Though the health sector is the primary service provider, there is a need to supplement its activities. Communities can promote wellness by engaging in quality-oriented initiatives that positively impact public healthcare provision (Etches et al., 2006, 31). For instance, I have noted that my friend receives adequate professional attention. However, his home environment does not foster the efforts and commitment to reducing weight. Thus, knowledge of the role and ability of the healthcare providers to provide additional support in the recovery process can improve the patient outcome.

I want to learn about existing health policies that contribute to the treatment, management, and prevention of obesity. Many federal governments, in conjunction with health departments, have enacted policies to improve public health. The primary purpose of these measures is to impact healthy living by encouraging consumption of natural food (Hawkes et al., 2015, 2411). The strategies also facilitate public participation in physical activities. Public health departments should consider improving school nutrition and an outright ban on junk-food advertising to encourage healthy feeding. State governments ought to take into account the impacts of social determinants such as poverty, lack of insurance, low income, and lack of education on disease prevalence (Hsu et al., 2018, 1396). These factors limit the ability of people to access and pay for services offered by physical fitness centers. The inability of an obese person to pay for regular, professional physical therapy sessions or purchase healthy food negatively affects the management of the condition.

A person’s behavior and lifestyle have a significant impact on one’s health status. Often, obesity is linked to values of individualism, self-determination, and secular morality (Brownell et al., 2010, 382). Some behaviors such as balanced eating and active life lead to better management of weight-related issues. Nonetheless, social and environmental factors determine an individual’s ability to achieve better health outcomes (Etches et al., 2006, 33). For instance, income disparities and inequalities in resource distribution limit a population’s capacity to lead a healthier lifestyle or manage obesity. Thus, the condition’s intervention measures should focus on individual choices and collective responsibility.

Overall, people’s medial experiences provide a platform to understand some essential aspects of a health care system. My friend’s experience will enable me to understand the connection between obesity and the occurrence of chronic diseases. Also, it will help me to understand the role of health practitioners in meeting the needs of the obese population and the effectiveness of health agencies in providing quality patient care. Obesity, which is a stigmatized condition, affects a significant population across different communities. Thus, by reflecting on his experience, it is easy to understand the importance of various health policies established to manage the disease. Similarly, I intend to learn more about obesity-related complications, treatment, and prevention. The knowledge will enable me to impact policy formulation processes and provide necessary support outside the formal health care setting.

References

Brownell, K. D., Kersh, R., Ludwig, D. S., Post, R. C., Puhl, R. M., Schwartz, M. B., & Willett, W. C. (2010). Personal responsibility and obesity: A constructive approach to a controversial issue. Health Affairs, 29(3), 379-387. .https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0739

Djalalinia, S., Qorbani, M., Peykari, N., & Kelishadi, R. (2015). Health impacts of obesity. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 31(1), 239. doi: 10.12669/pjms.311.7033

doi: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.27.021405.102141

Etches, V., Frank, J., Ruggiero, E. D., & Manuel, D. (2006). Measuring population health: A review of indicators. Annual Review of Public Health, 27(1), 29-55. doi: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.27.021405.102141

Hawkes, C., Smith, T. G., Jewell, J., Wardle, J., Hammond, R. A., Friel, S., … & Kain, J. (2015). Smart food policies for obesity prevention. The Lancet, 385(9985), 2410-2421. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61745-1

Hsu, P., Bryant, M. C., Hayes-Bautista, T. M., Partlow, K. R., & Hayes-Bautista, D. E. (2018). California and the changing American narrative on diversity, race, and health. Health Affairs, 37(9), 1394-1399. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0427

 
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