Obesity is a condition caused by an abnormal or excessive buildup of fat that poses a health concern. It raises the risk of developing various diseases and health issues such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and many more (Upadhyay et al., 2018). For example, when one is obese, the heart is forced to work harder to pump blood through the body. As a result, the extra efforts strain the arteries, which resist blood flow, causing blood pressure to rise. In addition, obesity raises fatty acids and inflammation, causing insulin resistance, which eventually causes type 2 diabetes.
The Impact of Obesity On EMS
Obesity is a growing epidemic with an increasing burden to emergency medical services (EMS). It increases the prevalence of various medical conditions such as heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, and others usually treated by EMS providers (Upadhyay et al., 2018). Obesity increases disease frequency, which in turn increases EMS call volume. For instance, an individual who is obese is likely to seek medical attention because of the exposure to various diseases and conditions. Since these conditions are handled in the EMS, it is possible to be burdened because of the many calls.
Public Health Information
Public health information is crucial in creating awareness about a health concern. It is any information of concern to the general public. The information contains important details about a specific population’s health needs, prevention strategies, and crucial information (DeSalvo et al., 2016). It could assist in the reduction of obesity levels because it informs the public about the adverse impacts and prevention mechanisms. This is an effective approach because it increases people’s knowledge and improves their response to a public health issue such as obesity. Therefore, public health information helps the public understand obesity, which is important for its reduction.
References
DeSalvo, K. B., O’Carroll, P. W., Koo, D., Auerbach, J. M., & Monroe, J. A. (2016). Public health 3.0: time for an upgrade. American journal of public health, 106(4), 621. Web.
Upadhyay, J., Farr, O., Perakakis, N., Ghaly, W., & Mantzoros, C. (2018). Obesity as a disease. Medical Clinics, 102(1), 13-33. Web.