Question 1.
To understand the social determinants of health it is essential to look beyond age, gender, and biological hereditary factors (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2005). Social determinants of health are an accumulation of lifetime experience, shaped by social conditions and socio-economic factors that influence variation in health status between an individual or groups of individuals (World Health Organisation; WHO, 2008). For example, neighbourhoods where good transit, health food and public services are difficult to access are more likely to have higher rates of diabetes (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2006). While medical practitioners can continue to treat the increasing prevalence of diabetes and other common diseases, health policy needs to address …show more content…
Prolonged periods of high stress can be detrimental to health, mentally and physiologically (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). Specifically, individuals experiencing chronic stress often suffer from impaired mental ability to prioritise health and commonly develop unhealthy coping behaviours, which in turn negatively impact their health status (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2006). Moreover, chronic stress diverts energy and resources away from essential physiological processes, which are imperative for long-term health (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). Short-term, the physical impacts of stress go unnoticed, however accumulation of prolonged chronic stress can attack the immune and cardiovascular system, predisposing individuals to numerous infections and diseases such as, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, depression, and heart attack (Wilkinson & Marmot, …show more content…
In 2012, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported more than 50% of Australian adults and 17% of children (aged 2–16 years) were overweight or obese. Evidence suggests that as income decreases the cost and satiety of food become the strongest determinant of choice for survival—to get the most food for the least cost (AIHW, 2012). Evidently, this results in consumption of highly processed food, which consequently leads to malnutrition and diseases of deficiency (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). Diet-related diseases are preventable, however they will remain prevalent throughout the most socioeconomically vulnerable, while fresh healthy food remains at a high price (Marmot & Wilkinson 2006). In order to take preventative action against diet-related diseases and make nutritious food accessible to all it is imperative the purchase cycle is reversed. This can be achieved through the integration of the (highly discussed) ‘junk food’ tax, similar to that of the tobacco tax (Bond, 2010). The key to successful implementation of the regressive ‘junk food’ tax is to ensure its design supports the most vulnerable disadvantaged groups by substantially subsidising healthy food to counteract the tax impact on unhealthy foods. Through placing a high tax on unhealthy products such as soft drink and confectionary, revenue raised could offset the
To understand the social determinants of health it is essential to look beyond age, gender, and biological hereditary factors (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2005). Social determinants of health are an accumulation of lifetime experience, shaped by social conditions and socio-economic factors that influence variation in health status between an individual or groups of individuals (World Health Organisation; WHO, 2008). For example, neighbourhoods where good transit, health food and public services are difficult to access are more likely to have higher rates of diabetes (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2006). While medical practitioners can continue to treat the increasing prevalence of diabetes and other common diseases, health policy needs to address …show more content…
Prolonged periods of high stress can be detrimental to health, mentally and physiologically (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). Specifically, individuals experiencing chronic stress often suffer from impaired mental ability to prioritise health and commonly develop unhealthy coping behaviours, which in turn negatively impact their health status (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2006). Moreover, chronic stress diverts energy and resources away from essential physiological processes, which are imperative for long-term health (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). Short-term, the physical impacts of stress go unnoticed, however accumulation of prolonged chronic stress can attack the immune and cardiovascular system, predisposing individuals to numerous infections and diseases such as, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, depression, and heart attack (Wilkinson & Marmot, …show more content…
In 2012, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported more than 50% of Australian adults and 17% of children (aged 2–16 years) were overweight or obese. Evidence suggests that as income decreases the cost and satiety of food become the strongest determinant of choice for survival—to get the most food for the least cost (AIHW, 2012). Evidently, this results in consumption of highly processed food, which consequently leads to malnutrition and diseases of deficiency (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). Diet-related diseases are preventable, however they will remain prevalent throughout the most socioeconomically vulnerable, while fresh healthy food remains at a high price (Marmot & Wilkinson 2006). In order to take preventative action against diet-related diseases and make nutritious food accessible to all it is imperative the purchase cycle is reversed. This can be achieved through the integration of the (highly discussed) ‘junk food’ tax, similar to that of the tobacco tax (Bond, 2010). The key to successful implementation of the regressive ‘junk food’ tax is to ensure its design supports the most vulnerable disadvantaged groups by substantially subsidising healthy food to counteract the tax impact on unhealthy foods. Through placing a high tax on unhealthy products such as soft drink and confectionary, revenue raised could offset the