Introduction of the health issue and priority population

  1. Introduction of the health issue and priority population (10 points Total)
    Define/describe the public health problem and the population of interest (e.g., age range, geography, urbanicity). Comprehensively summarize the behavioral risk factors and/or social/environmental determinants of the problem that have been identified in the literature. (5points)

State the health outcome that your group has selected to address in the target population. Using research and other literature, review how much of a problem it has been to achieve the desired health outcome in your target population or populations similar to your target population. Make sure to discuss the specific priority or targeted population and the relationship between the priority population and the health problem/issue. Make sure to provide reasons for choosing this behavior compared to other behaviors that come into play in the literature you have reviewed. This might include the prevalence of the priority population performing this behavior. (5 points)

Full Answer Section

            Beyond individual behaviors, several social and environmental determinants exacerbate this issue:
  • Economic Instability and Food Insecurity: Limited financial resources force individuals and families to prioritize quantity over quality when purchasing food, leading to reliance on cheaper, less nutritious options. Food insecurity, the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, paradoxically coexists with higher rates of obesity, as individuals may overeat when food is available or choose less healthy, more filling options to stretch their budgets.
  • Neighborhood and Built Environment: Many low-income and food-insecure communities reside in "food deserts" or "food swamps," areas with limited access to affordable, fresh, and healthy foods (e.g., grocery stores) but an abundance of unhealthy food outlets (e.g., fast-food restaurants, convenience stores). Furthermore, these neighborhoods often lack safe and accessible infrastructure for physical activity, such as well-maintained parks, sidewalks, and recreational facilities, making active living challenging.
  • Education Access and Quality & Health Literacy: Lower levels of educational attainment and limited health literacy within these populations can hinder individuals' ability to understand complex nutritional information, interpret food labels, and make informed choices about diet and physical activity. This can also limit their awareness of and access to health-promoting resources and programs.

Selected Health Outcome and Challenges

The health outcome selected to address in this target population is the reduction in the prevalence of obesity (or increase in healthy weight). This outcome is a direct measure of success in combating the multifaceted problem of obesity. Achieving a significant reduction in obesity prevalence within low-income and food-insecure populations has proven to be a persistent and formidable challenge. Despite various public health initiatives and clinical interventions over the past decades, these populations continue to experience disproportionately high rates of obesity. For instance, national data consistently show that adults in households with incomes below the poverty line have higher rates of obesity compared to those with higher incomes. Similarly, individuals experiencing food insecurity often exhibit higher rates of obesity than food-secure individuals. This challenge is rooted in the pervasive nature of the social determinants of health, which create systemic barriers that individual-level interventions alone cannot overcome. The lack of affordable healthy food, unsafe environments for physical activity, and limited health education are deeply embedded issues that require comprehensive, multi-sectoral approaches.

Sample Answer

         

Introduction of the Health Issue and Priority Population

The public health problem addressed is the pervasive issue of obesity, specifically within low-income and food-insecure populations across both urban and rural areas of the United States. While obesity affects individuals across all demographics, its disproportionate burden on economically disadvantaged and food-insecure communities highlights a critical health equity challenge. This population of interest typically includes adults (aged 18 and above) and their families, who face systemic barriers to healthy living. Comprehensively, the problem of obesity in this priority population is driven by a complex interplay of behavioral risk factors and deeply entrenched social and environmental determinants. Behavioral risk factors primarily include unhealthy dietary patterns, characterized by a high consumption of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods, sugary beverages, and fast food, coupled with a significantly low intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This is often accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle and insufficient physical activity, where daily routines involve minimal movement and opportunities for exercise are limited.