Social Ecological Model: A Case Study

Obesity is a major public health concern as it can lead to chronic health diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart diseases. Some major risk factors are lifestyle, SES (Socioeconomic Status), and neighborhood. Lifestyle factors such as eating habits and physical activities impact obesity. Education, social status, and income also play a role in preventing or influencing obesity. Lastly, access or lack of healthy fruits and vegetables in neighborhoods plays a role in obesity. This health issue is affecting people from low income neighborhoods from all ages and ethnicities. Women had a slightly higher prevalence rate of obesity at 38.3 percent than men, who had 34.3 percent rate.1 Obesity rates in 2015 for New York State adults from the ages of 45-64 years old were the highest at 29.9%.2 This is a problem because obesity leads to other chronic illnesses and ultimately premature death. If parents do not improve their eating habits, they will pass down the same unhealthy habits to …show more content…
On the interpersonal level of SEM, we will conduct meetings with our volunteers and staff members. Meetings will focus on whether or not our program is improving our priority population’s health. If deemed necessary, we will make changes to make ORIA more effective. For example, if our physical training class time or date is not convenient for our priority population, then we may need to change the time or date with works best for them. ORIA is going to provide both physical activities and cooking workshops because physical activity and healthy nutrition go hand in hand. Our physical activities include Pilates, yoga, cross fit, cardio, Zumba, indoor boot camps, and spinning. These activities will motivate participants to exercise more often and stay active. Cooking workshops will help build healthy cooking skills, motivation to cook more often, and to eat less