Can you hear the song in your head? Yes, it seems that yet another article has been written about Oklahoma's poor health. Nearly one-third of its citizens are obese, many smoke, and many don't have health insurance. What does this mean? The rest of us in this highly conservative, gun-toting state are carrying the medical costs of those people who don't take care of themselves and who protest the individual mandate of the ACA (lest they actually receive preventative care and have to pay something). Separating my call for some sense of fiscal and personal responsibility from the health issues, I'm going to try to focus on the public health issue of obesity that is at hand. The Gazette's article quotes the OK Commissioner of Health as saying that parents don't know how to recognize obesity in their children; this is a real issue. I would have never thought that education about classification of obesity would be necessary, but it appears it is. This sounds like part of a good practicum experience for our MPH students at the OU College of Public Health. Of course, as with anything in Oklahoma, you're going to have to deal with various cultures. In addition to Caucasians, African-Americans, and Hispanics, there is also a sizeable Native American population. Differing cultural techniques will need to be used to educate people about obesity. Let's face it, you can't just waltz in and call someone's kid fat and leave.
Linked with the recognition issue (and needing to do it tactfully and after building trust), I've noticed since living here that people do not make wise choices in the grocery stores. I often see people buying many processed foods, already made foods, high in sugar foods . . . you name it. Although there would definitely be an initial air of paternalism, it's almost like people need to have health educators go to the grocery with them, help them pick out healthy foods, and then teach them how to quickly prepare such foods. As someone who grew up eating McDonald's, canned ravioli, boxed macaroni and cheese, and frozen dinners, I can vouch that the change in palatte takes time, but it can happen. I now eat almost no prepared foods, I cook with very little salt, and I eat many fresh fruits and veggies . . . and I LOVE it! Even into college, I would eat brownies or cake from a box regularly, but now I can take all the synthetic ingredients. It just doesn't even taste good to me. This change can happen for others. Again, perhaps this education, grocery shopping, and cooking lesson is a good practicum project for an MPH . . . we'll see. Either way, Oklahoma needs to make a change because its people are just huge. Jaime Oliver, are you listening? (http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/home)
Read the Oklahoma City Gazette article here: http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-15941-state-of-health.html
Linked with the recognition issue (and needing to do it tactfully and after building trust), I've noticed since living here that people do not make wise choices in the grocery stores. I often see people buying many processed foods, already made foods, high in sugar foods . . . you name it. Although there would definitely be an initial air of paternalism, it's almost like people need to have health educators go to the grocery with them, help them pick out healthy foods, and then teach them how to quickly prepare such foods. As someone who grew up eating McDonald's, canned ravioli, boxed macaroni and cheese, and frozen dinners, I can vouch that the change in palatte takes time, but it can happen. I now eat almost no prepared foods, I cook with very little salt, and I eat many fresh fruits and veggies . . . and I LOVE it! Even into college, I would eat brownies or cake from a box regularly, but now I can take all the synthetic ingredients. It just doesn't even taste good to me. This change can happen for others. Again, perhaps this education, grocery shopping, and cooking lesson is a good practicum project for an MPH . . . we'll see. Either way, Oklahoma needs to make a change because its people are just huge. Jaime Oliver, are you listening? (http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/home)
Read the Oklahoma City Gazette article here: http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-15941-state-of-health.html
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