Governments are intrinsically crucial in maintaining the public health of the citizens. They play a critical role in the implementation and actualization of laws that keep their citizens safe and healthy. At every level of government, federal, state, or local, there are roles and responsibilities that aim to preserve and promote public health. These arms of government work together to prevent the outbreak of diseases, control epidemics, and counter natural disasters. Therefore, they share similar functions which include monitoring the epidemic, development of policies, and ensuring adequate access to health care services. According to The future of the public's health in the 21st century , 2003, the government structure responsible for public health is structured in the same manner as the country's democracy dictates. It means that the appointment of health officials is directly made by the elected leaders by the citizens. They are responsible for ensuring that the country is aware and able to manage and control any epidemic. They engage in the implementation of policies, regulations, and allocation of the necessary resources to handle the crisis. Hence the health division is structured accordingly, with a legislature, executive, and judiciary. The legislature is responsible for the creation of the laws and funding for implementation of the laws. The executive branch ensures that health departments act within the law by creating the necessary health policies. The judiciary is then tasked with the role of interpreting laws and ruling over health disputes. They determine the powers of the government in health-related matters. The system ensures that there is equity in judgment, and no branch can exert supreme power. States have also adopted the same structure in their health concerns ( The future of the public's health in the 21st century , 2003).
In the state of Idaho, there is a prevalent case of Obesity. Idaho is listed as among the 32nd state with the highest adult obesity rate in the United States. It also ranks 35 for youths between the age of 10 and 17 ("State Briefs," 2019). As a result, the state of Idaho has come up with legislation in conjunction with those at the national levels to be able to combat the obesity epidemic. Apart from national health objectives to reduce incidences of Obesity, the state of Idaho has implemented policies that can assist the actualization of that objective. In this case, the state of Idaho has defined physical activities in early childhood education to ensure that every child gets adequate nutrition and physical practice ("State Briefs," 2019). They aim to reduce the instances of childhood obesity and hence halt it into adulthood. Thus the state works in a way to actualize the national objectives of reducing Obesity by implementing the necessary policies to achieve it.
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The federal Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of 1990 state clearly that all retail foods should have their ingredients well printed for consumers to see. The act enables consumers to be aware of what they are eating to avoid health concerns (Hodge, Garcia & Shah, 2008). The action also assists those vulnerable to the obesity epidemic to control it. However, it is notable that foods served in restaurants do not have their ingredients outlined, what about the food served as lunch in schools? In response to this, the state of Idaho has implemented healthy eating policies in licensed early childhood education programs in conjunction with a mandatory time allocated for physical activities. The actions assist the state in ensuring that children eat healthily and reduce instances of Obesity in the country ("State Briefs," 2019). Also, the Idaho department of health and welfare has worked with schools to bring about healthy vending options. Vending machines in schools serve children with unlimited amounts of sugar-filled beverages and snacks that may actually increase children's chances of developing Obesity ("Idaho State Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Profile," 2012). The state has worked to curb this problem by offering mini-grants to schools and see them pilot the project to provide healthier vending options. The move is in line with the federal standards for competitive foods.
Moreover, the department of health and welfare has worked with five communities, including Idaho Falls, to pilot a complete streets policy. The movement seeks to implement Active Living Task Forces with the ability to transform the community's infrastructure and its capacity for a more enhanced transportation and metropolitan organization ("Idaho State Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Profile," 2012). The move is aimed at creating a better environment for the communities through the complete adoption of the complete streets policies. The department aims at reaching an approximate 622,000 people. They plan to achieve this through regional training among those five communities in the project ("Idaho State Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Profile," 2012). These meetings enable the members to gain valuable information on chronic disease prevention and means to reduce health imbalances. It is notable that the state of Idaho has made significant steps other than those made by the national government to diminish the rates of Obesity.
Also, the state of Idaho has implemented legislation that assists those in morbid Obesity with insurance coverage issues. Notably, many insurance companies have always offered coverage on the effects of Obesity other than the programs or surgeries offered to those affected (Hodge, Garcia & Shah, 2008). These issues include diabetes and heart diseases. Thus it disables those in morbid Obesity for getting treatment due to lack of funds to acquire health services in the expensive healthcare system of the country (Hodge, Garcia & Shah, 2008). The national government has not implemented laws touching on this issue, but the states reserve the power to create these policies and implement them. To ensure that the citizens of Idaho whereby Obesity is quite prevalent are protected, the state has amended its own health laws. The law now ensures that all private insurance companies provide coverage for all expenses that come about sue to those affected by morbid Obesity (Hodge, Garcia & Shah, 2008).
References
Hodge, J. G., Garcia, A. M., & Shah, S. (2008). Legal themes concerning obesity regulation in the United States: Theory and practice. Australia and New Zealand Health Policy , 5 (1), 14.
Idaho State Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Profile. (2012). Retrieved 15 August 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/stateprograms/fundedstates/pdf/idaho-state-profile.pdf
National Academies Press. (2003). The future of the public's health in the 21st century . Washington, DC.
State Briefs. (2019). Retrieved 15 August 2019, from https://www.stateofobesity.org/states/id/
