What Will It Take to Reverse the Obesity Epidemic? Research Paper Example

I agree that both priorities are of critical importance; however, I would replace #1 with the worldwide obesity epidemic, which is a key contributor to chronic disease and premature death in many people. Current statistics note that 35.7 percent of American adults and 16.9 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 19 are classified as obese, and many other countries possess similar statistics (Nelson & Zeratsky, 2012). Therefore, policies regarding food labeling, limiting processed food manufacturing, as well as improved dietary and exercise objectives are likely to have a positive impact on health outcomes in many ways. In addition, these opportunities could reduce the incidence of chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes at significant levels in order to ensure that weight loss and healthy eating are a priority in many countries throughout the world.

I agree with the need for additional oversight regarding medications in order to make them more affordable to larger groups of people. However, it is difficult to govern the activities of pharmaceutical companies at the pricing level. Therefore, other alternatives must be pursued to regulate pricing so that these drugs are able to be used by larger groups of people who need them. This requires a national discussion regarding expanded regulation and oversight regarding pharmaceutical pricing strategies that will also introduce discussions with insurance providers so that these drugs are available to larger numbers of people. These factors require a greater understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and its significant impact on the healthcare industry on many levels. In addition, it is important to identify the resources that are required to ensure that patients who need drugs are able to obtain them without excessive and restrictive out-of-pocket cost.

References

Nelson, J.K., & Zeratsky, K. (2012). What will it take to reverse the obesity epidemic? Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-blog/obesity-epidemic/bgp-20056139