Physical Inactivity - Report Example

Introduction

One of the public health concerns is physical inactivity defined as the failure to attain the recommended levels of regular physical activity. In this case, the individuals do not even get moderate activities including climbing stairs, pleasure walking, yard work, gardening, dancing, and even home exercise (Bumgardner, 2017). Physical inactivity is profound health concern because there are amplified risks of death from diabetes, colon cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Research has equally indicated that with longer sitting times, one increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, early death, and cardiovascular disease (Birdee et al., 2013).

Justification for problem selection

Physical inactivity is an important vital concern because it is currently regarded as a global health problem. For instance, there is high prevalence, with the WHO reporting that around 31% of the adults from age 15 and over are insufficiently inactive (World Health Organization, 2017). In approximation, 3.2 million people die on a daily basis all attributed lack of physical activity (WHO, 2017). Reasons for physical inactivity have equally been documented, especially the concerns over the increased levels of sedentary behavior in both domestic and occupational activities.

Conversely, physical inactivity as a topic is discussed from the perspective of the necessity of physical activity. For instance, those engaging in physical activity are more inclined to reduce type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, as well as cancers (Bumgardner, 2017). In addition, there is the greater enhancement in function and preservation of a person’s functional systems with age. Consequently, the current evidence supports the inference that physical sedentariness is a grave public health worry for the 21st Century and should be considered as the most vital issue that requires prompt or immediate action (WHO, 2017). In essence, there is the inherent need of paying much attention to intervention mechanisms, including focusing on the eating habits, evidence-based preventive mechanisms or medical care and even smoking intervention (prevention) and cessation programs (WHO, 2017). Nonetheless, the problem is aggravated by the fact that for the public health intervention mechanisms, physical activity has been disregarded or undervalued as well as underappreciated by public health professionals and clinical medicine profession (Bumgardner, 2017).

Discuss the relation between the topic (the health issue) and health behavior

Physical inactivity is much associated and attributed to health concerns and behaviors which are risky to human health. For instance, those who are sedentary are more likely to engage in unhealthy or risky health behaviors like overeating, substance abuse, smoking, risk taking and stress management issues or concerns (Birdee et al., 2013). For instance, there is substance evidence confirming the direct relationship between physical activity and weight control problems and higher caloric intake. Empirical study or research from Birdee et al. (2013) indicated that those who are attributed to physical inactivity lack stress management skills, experience physical inactivity. In addition, the individuals are less likely to have enough sleep (sleep is an element of health well-being). In addition, physical inactivity is equally associated with mood problems and disorders of which the individuals are greater folds most likely to experience mental health or emotional problems.

How to Address Physical Inactivity through Intervention Programs

Physical inactivity as a public health problem or concern requires public health intervention especially through plans and models that create awareness on the importance of engaging in physical activity or promoting physical activity (Birdee et al., 2013). For instance, there are currently public awareness interventions calling for the integration or incorporation of physiotherapists. The implication is that after they qualify, the physiotherapists are well-versed with the knowledge and skills for promoting physical activity as well as easing public health burden as regarding the health problems brought about by physical inactivity (Birdee et al., ). It is believed that interventions focusing on physical activity promotion are the best solution and one of the recent widespread interventions focused on the issue. Therefore, from the current evidence, public health intervention is considered as crucial in addressing or redressing physical inactivity.

Theory

Health Belief Model is the theory explaining physical inactivity, of which beliefs and attitudes of individuals influence their attitudes towards health practices. It indicates that the belief and attitudes that people have about health problems, possible benefits of specific actions as well as barriers to action in addition to self-efficacy explain either engagement or even lack of engagement in the health-promotion behavior (Ahadzadeh, Sharif, Ong & Khong, 2015). In this scenario, it will explain the health beliefs on physical activity and barriers to physical exercise promotes or undermine the engagement with the physical activity services for promoting healthy living.

The PRECEDE - PROCEED Planning Model

The precede-proceed approach is defined as a comprehensive structure used in assessing the particular health needs of a population and used to design, implement as well as evaluate the specific health promotion along with other public health programs for meeting the needs (Crosby & Noar, 2011). The Precede is “Predisposing, Reinforcing, and Enabling Constructs in Educational Diagnosis and Evaluation” (Crosby & Noar 2011, p.7). Alternatively, PROCEED in full is “Policy, Regulatory, and Organizational Constructs in Educational and Environmental Development” (Crosby & Noar 2011, p.7). Therefore, for the physical inactivity health intervention, the PRECEED-PROCEED Model will be applied as below:

Step 1: Social assessment: The assessment will include evaluating how the community value physical activity, their culture of physical activity like walking, running, or attitude towards physical exercise. It will also assess barriers keeping individuals from physical exercise, community facilities for physical activity and the extent or level of awareness creation among others.

Step 2: Epidemiological Diagnosis: It entails creating measurable and time-limited health-based objectives. Therefore, the objective here is that overall, the number or threshold of people considered as physically inactive will reduce to 5%.

Step 3: Environmental and Behavioral Diagnosis: The step entails the identification of behavioral as well as environmental factors, which helps in forming the long-term objectives for health improvement and promotion. For this intervention, it will be necessary to look at the presence of sidewalks, open fields, cycling pavements which can encourage physical activity. Part of the objectives will also include focusing on the reduction of billboards as well as local media advertisements promoting cigarette smoking, eating of fast-foods and environmental factors promoting substance abuse. In this case, within 6 months, the community shall be provided with more physical activity facilities including building more social halls. Other measures should include local government setting more sidewalks, encouraging people to cycle instead of driving to work.

Step 4: Ecological and Educational diagnosis: This will entail integrating factors of predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling elements. In this regard, it will be necessary to collaborate with local government, community-based groups that promote education and awareness for physical activity. Free access to physical exercise facilities should be ensured. For behavior, it is necessary to develop an individualized physical activity plan.

Step 5: Entails policy and administrative assessment: It focuses on identifying the resources and capacity for implementing the programs and as such, policy changes that will allow achievement of the objectives. Hence, focus should be on regulation, policy, as well as organizational structures assessed on their capacity, as well as available resources for lobbying for community physical activity and pressurizing the local government to support the course.

Step 6: The step will entail drafting and finalizing the program for evaluating plan before implementing. Therefore, it will be necessary to detail the processes, evaluate the impact of the program (in terms of promoting physical activity and overall reduction in unhealthy or risk health behaviors) as well as all the activities that will be included in the evaluation.

Step 7: Evaluation of the process and program: for this step, it will be imperative to monitor the program as a way of ensuring the viability based on the blueprints. In this case, the concerned team should provide feedback on how physical activity is improving as well as the necessary changes which can improve the program. Things to look for will include how the lobby groups are creating awareness, physical activity facilities are being provided, whether individuals are reducing intake of high-calorie foods, use of substances and drugs, more physical activity and change in attitude towards healthy nutrition.

Step 8: Evaluating impacts: This will entail evaluating the overall cases of physical inactive induced problems like diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, colon cancer, and obesity.

Step 9: Outcome evaluation: The stage will entail assessing whether the intended impact on the public has been achieved. Hence, it will assess whether the 5% reduction in physical inactivity has been reduced.

Conclusion

Reports or findings indicate that physical inactivity is a grave public health problem with few individuals considered as active despite the serious health implications like smoking, substance abuse, high intake of calorie-rich foods and poor stress management. Through the health belief model, it is understood that the belief that individuals have on the health benefits of physical activity influence their engagement in the health promotional services while barriers to attaining such services are equally predictors of physical activity engagement. Hence, through the PRECEED-PROCEED model, a comprehensive plan can be developed to diagnose, implement, monitor and evaluate the impacts based on the overall set objectives, say, 5% of individuals not engaging in physical activity.