Health And Environment Essay

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Health and Environment - Written Assignment This essay will discuss the main environmental factors that are contributing to an increasing level of health issue such as, obesity among individuals in New Zealand. James and Peters stated that a person’s body weight and body height are determined by interactions between the environment and genetics (1998). Usually, health professionals observed obesity as a circumstance of overeating, therefore this essay will be identifying the three major environmental factors that contribute to obesity within New Zealand. This essay will also discuss how well the government is managing the relationship between the health issue identified above and environment.
The health issue identified is recognised as a …show more content…

Today’s society has become a more indolent routine and it has many environmental influences on an individual’s health. Walking has been replaced by driving cars, physical activity has been replaced by technology and nutrition has been overcome by convenience foods (OAC, 2014). Environmental factors that causes obesity among individuals are quality and quantity of food they intake, the level of physical activity accessible within the community and transport related issues. The environment we live in does not support healthy lifestyle habits therefore, it encourages obesity (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 2012). Reasons that include are mostly lack of safe recreational parks and affordable gyms in the community. There are many people who say they do not have time to exercise because of long hours at work and takeaway food from local restaurants on way home. Children are more expected to eat advertised foods such as salty snacks and fizzy drinks while watching television for two hours or more a day (Utter, Scragg & Schaaf, 2006). Shiriki identified that the environments with poor neighbourhood have less availability of healthful foods and higher than average availability of fast food restaurants, which may contribute higher calorie foods and beverages (2007). Since a lot of children live in an ‘obesogenic’ environment, their physical activity as a part of daily routine in life …show more content…

Factors include, environmental, social and behavioural. From this research I have gained a better understanding of the major environmental factors of obesity. Considering the relationship between the health issue and environment, the New Zealand government has managed this wisely to overcome the high occurrence of obesity among adults and children. Most people who live in underprivileged areas are unable to afford healthy food for their families, commonly because of the high prices they struggle to feed their families with right portion of healthy food. For example, they get $5 meals from McDonalds on way home from work to save money and time to cook. The reason they get takeaways because they get paid low and some adults don’t have the understanding of what health issues can arise while consuming certain food. To help decrease the occurrence of obesity in New Zealand the discrimination between rich and poor needs to change. Food prices and healthcare services in the community should be made more affordable so that underprivileged areas and low income families can feel safe in their own community and can access the services provided at any time. I personally believe that health professionals should go out in communities educating and providing enlightening information on healthy eating and

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