Contemporary Challenge Public Health Policies - 2116 Words

Contemporary Challenge Public Health Policies: Nutrition and Physical Activities Policies within the U.K Compared to the U.S.: Obesity on the Rise The United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion focuses on the well-being of each citizen. According to its mission Statement â€Å"The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers† (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1). However since the 1980s, public health declined and led to an epidemic of obesity among adults and children. According to Table 1, the United States ranks highest among other†¦show more content†¦The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) within the USDA was founded during 1994; it aims to improve the well-being of Americans by providing information to policymakers which would than implement regulations to improve the public health in the U.S. The CNPP provides a self-directed approach for individuals; the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and Di etary Guidelines are available for Americans to monitor their eating habits. â€Å"[HEI] is an online dietary assessment told that allows a consumer to calculate his or her own HEI score†¦ provides information on the individual’s diet quality†¦Ã¢â‚¬  it also provides nutrition messages for the consumers to take advantage of (Edelstein 272). Dietary guidelines have been established earlier during the 1980s and has gradually improved to what Americans now know as the Pyramid (Table 2). Many of these guidelines have been established to encourage consumers to eat healthier but has little affect. At the time of intense population increase, there was also a need for inexpensive food supplies. Government policies at this time provide the much needed food supply at low prices. However, â€Å"the conditions and health issues that existed when those policies were created are not the same†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the preexisting policies encourage the population to purchase food that can now lead to health risks and poor nutrition. In order to