Obesity is a major issue throughout the human history. Around the 20th century, obese became common to the extent that it was declared a global epidemic by WHO in 1997. The childhood obesity and overweight prevalence has become a major concern globally as a result of the increasing rates of death associated with it. Studies have shown approximately 1 in every three children who are of ages between 2-19 are either overweight or obese. These situations have led to various risky chronic diseases associated with increased death rates and morbidity. Such as type II diabetes. In June 2013 American Medical Association grouped obesity as a controversial illness. Currently, Maryland adult obesity rate is about 28.9 percent (The State of Obesity, 2017).
Maryland ranks at position 31 regarding the highest obesity rates based on The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America, 2016. Obesity is associated with unhealthy housing and the neighboring characteristics. Exposure to an unhealthy condition within the neighborhood including poor nutrition, exposure to drugs, nicotine use, and increased delinquency such as is the case in Baltimore, Maryland has contributed to obesity (Berke et al., 2007). In Baltimore, studies established a definite link between housing and neighborhood index and obesity. Baltimore is characterized with a perpetuation of the concentration of poverty, discrimination based on race, lack of a proper house, and lack of education that results in poor social and health outcome related to obesity. Studies have shown that individuals’ built environment and other environmental factors will lead to a higher intake of calories in addition to the little amount of required physical activities (Papas et al., 2007).
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The social-ecological model is the most suitable theory to explain social environment and health outcome. The model shows how an individual’s health is determined by his or her adjustment social environment and interactions (Nhlbi.nih.gov, 2016). This model can, therefore, be used to understand built environment as a contributing factor to childhood and adult obesity and weight gain. It focuses on individual’s exposure to various environmental factors and understanding the interplay between exposure faced by children and how they lead to the development of health behaviors. Based on this theory, the social environment plays a critical role in causing obesity hence the need to address various social factors like poverty, racial discrimination, accessibility to education in addition to low rates of rents to improve the well-being of the people (Lopez, 2007).
References
Berke, E. M., Koepsell, T. D., Moudon, A. V., Hoskins, R. E., & Larson, E. B. (2007). Association of the built environment with physical activity and obesity in older persons. American journal of public health , 97 (3), 486-492.
Lopez, R. P. (2007). Neighbourhood risk factors for obesity. Obesity , 15 (8), 2111-2119.
Nhlbi.nih.gov, (2016). What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity? - NHLBI, NIH . Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/obe/risks
Papas, M. A., Alberg, A. J., Ewing, R., Helzlsouer, K. J., Gary, T. L., & Klassen, A. C. (2007). The built environment and obesity. Epidemiologic reviews .
The State of Obesity . (2017). Maryland State Obesity Data, Rates and Trends: Stateofobesity.org . Retrieved from http://stateofobesity.org/states/md/
