Health Policy on Obesity in Relation to Mental Health Illness Essay

Health Policy on Obesity in Relation to Mental Health Illness - Essay Example The  World Health Organization  defines mental health as "a state of  well-being  in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community" (World Health Organisation, 2010). Obesity, where excess fat accumulates in the body, causes serious health problems like diabetes, liver and heart problems, and/or cancer, often also leads to mental illness in the affected person, thus producing an overall negative effect on human health. Data from the latest Health Survey for England (HSE) revealed that â€Å"in 2009, 61.3% of adults (aged 16 or over), and 28.3% of children (aged 2-10) in England were overweight or obese, of these, 23.0% of adults and 14.4% of children were obese. The Foresight report, Tackling Obesities: Future Choices project, published in October 2007, predicted that if no action was taken, 60% of men, 50% of women and 25% of children would be obese by 2050† (Department of Health, Obesity, 2011). ... ity to accord proper healthcare to all sections of the population, to spread awareness and educate the public through various promotions and programmes. In this context, the paper will examine the determinants of health, their relevance to health and well-being, and the impact of inequalities of health on individuals and populations, while analysing the impact of policies on public health and healthcare access, and the structure, organization and delivery of healthcare.   It will also evaluate the role of the nurse in the promotion of health with individuals, families and populations and first contact care, while using a health promotion framework to illustrate role of nurse Discussion The determinants of health, their relevance to health and well-being, and the impact of inequalities of health on individuals and populations: The surrounding environment and circumstances that one faces in his/her daily life, often decides the course of health of that particular individual. Differen t factors like family income, education, lifestyle, surrounding environment, interpersonal relationships, and genetics, all have a significant effect on health. On the other hand, certain commonly deliberated factors like the availability and use of health care services, tend to produce less impact on an individual’s health (WHO, Health Impact Assessment (HIA) - The determinants of health, 2011). According to WHO the determinants of health comprise of â€Å"the social and economic environment; the physical environment; and the person’s individual characteristics and behaviours† (ibid). Thus, we find that often the ambience/surroundings in a person’s life determines this/her health, and some of these determinants are quite beyond the direct control of an individual. Besides the