scholarly journals The COVID-19 pandemic: an unprecedented tragedy in the battle against childhood obesity

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 477-482
Author(s):  
Maximilian Andreas Storz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Obesogenic Environment ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

The childhood obesity pandemic has emerged as an important public health problem in many countries. Obese children are likely to become obese adults, and adult obesity is associated with an increased risk of morbidity. Therefore, controlling the childhood obesity epidemic has become a top public health priority worldwide. The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may significantly impede this important mission and constitute an unprecedented tragedy in the global battle against childhood obesity. This manuscript presents evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic will aggravate the childhood obesity epidemic and lead to significant weight gain in school children by creating an unprecedented obesogenic environment. Within the last few months, many countries took uncompromising measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including school closures and quarantine. While these steps are often necessary to ensure infection control, they may have a significant negative effect on children's mental and physical health. Physical, nutritional, and psychosocial factors that promote obesity in children during this special situation complementarily contribute to an unprecedented obesogenic environment. Large-scale quarantine and home confinement will impose new and unfamiliar stressors on children, thereby worsening the childhood obesity epidemic. Most importantly, adverse childhood events resulting from a predicted increase in domestic violence within the next few months will significantly contribute to this concern. The scenario presented in this review is of paramount public health importance and must be considered during future pandemic planning. Involved stakeholders, including governments, schools, and families, must make all possible efforts to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on childhood obesity.

scholarly journals SERO PREVALENCE STUDY OF BRUCELLOSIS IN GOATS IN HAMER AND BENATSEMAY WOREDAS OF SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 166-174
Author(s):  
Seifu Lemma ◽  
Abeyenh Leza ◽  
Gimete Gercha ◽  
Alemayeh Radii
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Bacterial Disease ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
South Omo

Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease with worldwide importance and affects a number of animal species and human beings. Although brucellosis in domestic animals has controlled in most developed countries it remains an important public health problem in several parts of the world. But in developing countries brucellosis has both animal and public health importance (Walker, 1999; Radostitset al.,2000; Acha, and Szyfers, 2001; Tsolia et al.,2002).

EXPOSURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF NOISE POLLUTION AMONG RESIDENTS OF BICHI TOWN, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-157
Author(s):  
Muktar A. Gadanya ◽  
Imrana A. Buhari
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Living Condition ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional

Environmental pollution is the most important public health problem densely in populated areas in the developing countries and often the underlying cause of many diseases of public health importance. Noise pollution is an undesirable sound that interferes with wellbeing in the environment with significant effects. With the current rapid growth and technological advancement, noise pollution is increasingly becoming environmental menace that deserves appropriate attention in order to  mitigate its health effects. This paper aims to determine the sources, awareness and health effects of noise pollution in a typical Nigerian sub-urban population. Descriptive cross-sectional study using interviewer administered questionnaire and measurement of environmental noise using acoustic metre. Majority of the respondents (75.8%) were exposed to noise levels above the 55dB WHO safe noise level without health effects. Power generators, automobiles and grinding machines are the commonest sources of noise pollution in the studied environment amounted to a value of 55.8%, 40% and 35.8% respectively and to a lesser extent hawker (16.4%) and loudspeaker (9.6%) among others. Sleep disturbance, headache, and poor concentration were commonly reported effects of noise in the environment with magnitudes of 52.7%, 50.9%, 15.8% respectively. Anxiety (12.1%) and hearing disturbances (11.5%) were also common. Noise pollution associated health problems are common in the community with significant effects on the quality of life of the inhabitants. Stable power supply, effective legislation and improvement in living condition of the people are key to minimize noise pollution and avert its deleterious health effects

scholarly journals Molecular evolution of lineage 2 West Nile virus

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison R. McMullen ◽  
Harun Albayrak ◽  
Fiona J. May ◽  
C. Todd Davis ◽  
David W. C. Beasley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New York ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Lineage 2 ◽  
Virulent Phenotype

Since the 1990s West Nile virus (WNV) has become an increasingly important public health problem and the cause of outbreaks of neurological disease. Genetic analyses have identified multiple lineages with many studies focusing on lineage 1 due to its emergence in New York in 1999 and its neuroinvasive phenotype. Until recently, viruses in lineage 2 were not thought to be of public health importance due to few outbreaks of disease being associated with viruses in this lineage. However, recent epidemics of lineage 2 in Europe (Greece and Italy) and Russia have shown the increasing importance of this lineage. There are very few genetic studies examining isolates belonging to lineage 2. We have sequenced the full-length genomes of four older lineage 2 WNV isolates, compared them to 12 previously published genomic sequences and examined the evolution of this lineage. Our studies show that this lineage has evolved over the past 300–400 years and appears to correlate with a change from mouse attenuated to virulent phenotype based on previous studies by our group. This evolution mirrors that which is seen in lineage 1 isolates, which have also evolved to a virulent phenotype over the same period of time.

The impact of heat waves on the elderly living in Australia: how should a heat health warning system be developed to protect them?

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renate van Iersel ◽  
Peng Bi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
The Impact

Heat waves with extreme temperatures are increasingly being recognised as an important public health problem, together with a need to develop appropriate public health interventions. Although heat waves cannot be prevented, their harmful health consequences can be reduced by the development and implementation of early warning systems that target vulnerable regions and populations. This is particularly important for Australian society, given its ageing population structure and vulnerable characteristics of ageing people. It is crucial that a heat health warning system (HHWS) for an ageing population be based on accurate information about the location of vulnerable people, their access to communication technology, the facilities available to them and their ability to respond effectively to a HHWS. This accurate information is critical for the development and implementation of such a system. More importantly, the right stakeholders should be identified, and public’s perception and knowledge about heat waves should be evaluated.

Application of Law to the Childhood Obesity Epidemic

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jess Alderman ◽  
Jason A. Smith ◽  
Ellen J. Fried ◽  
Richard A. Daynard
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Overweight Children ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
Surgeon General ◽  
Application Of Law ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
Societal Level

Childhood obesity is a national public health problem. Regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic status, or geographic location, children are gaining weight to a dangerous degree and at an alarming rate. Since 1980, the number of overweight children has doubled; among adolescents the number has almost tripled. Today, among children who are more than six years old, about nine million are obese. Many of the factors that contribute to obesity occur at a societal level, prompting the Surgeon General to conclude that preventing obesity is a community responsibility.Childhood obesity is, in many important respects, a result of legal policy. Law shapes the situational and environmental influences that drive both dietary intake and physical activity. Government, public health advocates, and the food industry all use the law to alter these influences in furtherance of their respective goals. Public interest advocates attempt to persuade government and corporations to act in the interest of public health while the industry focuses on profit.

Analysis of association of gene variants with obesity traits in New Zealand European children at 6 years of age

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1524-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohanraj Krishnan ◽  
John M. D. Thompson ◽  
Edwin A. Mitchell ◽  
Rinki Murphy ◽  
Lesley M. E. McCowan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Gene Variants ◽  
Increased Risk

Childhood obesity is a public health problem, which is associated with a long-term increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.

EXPOSURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF NOISE POLLUTION AMONG RESIDENTS OF BICHI TOWN, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-58
Author(s):  
Muktar A. Gadanya ◽  
Imrana A. Buhari
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Living Condition ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional

Environmental pollution is the most important public health problem densely in populated areas in the developing countries and often the underlying cause of many diseases of public health importance. Noise pollution is an undesirable sound that interferes with wellbeing in the environment with significant effects. With the current rapid growth and technological advancement, noise pollution is increasingly becoming environmental menace that deserves appropriate attention in order to mitigate its health effects. This paper aims to determine the sources, awareness and health effects of noise pollution in a typical Nigerian sub-urban population. Descriptive cross-sectional study using interviewer administered questionnaire and measurement of environmental noise using acoustic metre. Majority of the respondents (75.8%) were exposed to noise levels above the 55dB WHO safe noise level without health effects. Power generators, automobiles and grinding machines are the commonest sources of noise pollution in the studied environment amounted to a value of 55.8%, 40% and 35.8% respectively and to a lesser extent hawker (16.4%) and loudspeaker (9.6%) among others. Sleep disturbance, headache, and poor concentration were commonly reported effects of noise in the environment with magnitudes of 52.7%, 50.9%, 15.8% respectively. Anxiety (12.1%) and hearing disturbances (11.5%) were also common. Noise pollution associated health problems are common in the community with significant effects on the quality of life of the inhabitants. Stable power supply, effective legislation and improvement in living condition of the people are key to minimize noise pollution and avert its deleterious health effects.

scholarly journals Anti-meningococcal B vaccination in Italian adolescents: a cost-effective health opportunity

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Panatto ◽  
P Landa ◽  
D Amicizia ◽  
P L Lai ◽  
E Lecini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Vaccination Strategy ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Dose Schedule ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
International Setting ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Invasive disease due to Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) is a serious public health problem even in developed countries, owing to its high lethality rate (8-15%) and the invalidating sequelae suffered by many (up to 60%) survivors. As the microorganism is transmitted via the airborne route, the only available weapon in the fight against Nm invasive disease is vaccination. Our aim was to carry out an HTA to evaluate the costs and benefits of anti-meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination with Trumenba® in adolescents in Italy, while also considering the impact of this new vaccination strategy on organizational and ethics aspects. Methods A lifetime Markov model was developed. MenB vaccination with the two-dose schedule of Trumenba® in adolescents was compared with 'non-vaccination'. Two perspectives were considered: the National Health Service (NHS) and society. Three disease phases were defined: acute, post-acute and long-term. Epidemiological, economic and health utilities data were taken from Italian and international literature. The analysis was conducted by means of Microsoft Excel 2010®. Results Our study indicated that vaccinating adolescents (11th year of life) with Trumenba® was cost-effective with an ICER = € 7,912/QALY from the NHS perspective and € 7,758/QALY from the perspective of society. Vaccinating adolescents reduces the number of cases of disease due to meningococcus B in one of the periods of highest incidence of the disease, resulting in significant economic and health savings. Conclusions This is the first study to evaluate the overall impact of free MenB vaccination in adolescents both in Italy and in the international setting. Although cases of invasive disease due to meningococcus B are few, if the overall impact of the disease is adequately considered, it becomes clear that including anti-meningococcal B vaccination into the immunization program for adolescents is strongly recommended from the health and economic standpoints. Key messages Free, large-scale MenB vaccination is key to strengthening the global fight against invasive meningococcal disease. Anti-meningococcal B vaccination in adolescents is a cost-effective health opportunity.

scholarly journals 26.A. Workshop: Assessing the role of policies and actions to address childhood obesity

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Policy Options ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Relevant Evidence ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
The Impact

Abstract   Childhood obesity has grown to become one of the most dramatic features of the global obesity epidemic, with long-term consequences. The spread of obesity has been fueled by changes in social norms and living environments that have shaped individual behaviours making them conducive to excessive and imbalanced nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, and ultimately obesity and associated diseases. The STOP project will aim to generate scientifically sound, novel and policy-relevant evidence on the factors that have contributed to the spread of childhood obesity in European countries and on the effects of alternative technological and organisational solutions and policy options available to address the problem. STOP will translate the evidence gathered and generated into indicators and measurements, policy briefs and toolkits and multi-stakeholder frameworks. A special focus of STOP is understanding the stakeholders' networks and drivers of stakeholders' action. STOP will establish new ways for policy-relevant evidence to be generated, made available and used in the design and implementation of effective and sustainable solutions for childhood obesity at the EU, national and local levels. Each of the policy work packages will: Produce evidence syntheses and impact simulations for different policy approaches;Assess selected policy approaches and actions in children cohorts and other relevant settings;Devise policy toolkits and policy guidance to support the adoption and implementation of specific actions by relevant actors;Establish a country-based European accountability and monitoring framework in each policy area. The workshop aims to: Showcase the impact of different policy options evaluated throughout the STOP project;Increase participants' understanding and awareness of the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of selected policies;Increase awareness of public health professionals of the importance of overcoming siloes in identifying and implementing public health policies;Increase the understanding of multi-stakeholder engagement. The discussion will explore the role of stakeholders across different policy areas. We will explore the different definitions of “stakeholders” and “multi-stakeholders” engagement. This will also be an opportunity to explore some of the benefits, risks and challenges around stakeholder engagement, and explore what are the different types of stakeholders involved in these policies as well as their roles. The workshop will offer an opportunity to: Inform participants about existing physical activity, regulatory and fiscal policies to address childhood obesity;Inform participants about new, innovative EU-level projects that aim to address childhood obesity;Outline preliminary findings of the STOP project with regards to the effectiveness of the evaluated policies;Identify some of the gaps and limitations of existing policies and discuss some of the steps to ensure successful policy implementation. Key messages Present new evidence on what policy approaches work in addressing key determinants of childhood obesity. Showcase findings on the attitudes of different stakeholders towards obesity policies, and debate the benefits, risks and challenges of multi-stakeholder engagement.

scholarly journals The gut at war: the consequences of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection as a factor of diarrhea and malnutrition

2000 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulysses Fagundes-Neto ◽  
Isabel Cristina Affonso Scaletsky
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Diarrheal Disease ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Small Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
The Impact

Diarrheal disease is still the most prevalent and important public health problem in developing countries, despite advances in knowledge, understanding, and management that have occurred over recent years. Diarrhea is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. The impact of diarrheal diseases is more severe in the earliest periods of life, when taking into account both the numbers of episodes per year and hospital admission rates. This narrative review focuses on one of the major driving forces that attack the host, namely the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and the consequences that generate malnutrition in an early phase of life. EPEC serotypes form dense microcolonies on the surface of tissue-culture cells in a pattern known as localized adherence (LA). When EPEC strains adhere to epithelial cells in vitro or in vivo they cause characteristic changes known as Attaching and Effacement (A/E) lesions. Surface abnormalities of the small intestinal mucosa shown by scanning electron microscopy in infants with persistent diarrhea, although non-specific, are intense enough to justify the severity of the clinical aspects displayed in a very young phase in life. Decrease in number and height of microvilli, blunting of borders of enterocytes, loss of the glycocalyx, shortening of villi and presence of a mucus pseudomembrane coating the mucosal surface were the abnormalities observed in the majority of patients. These ultrastructural derangements may be due to an association of the enteric enteropathogenic agent that triggers the diarrheic process and the onset of food intolerance responsible for perpetuation of diarrhea. An aggressive therapeutic approach based on appropriate nutritional support, especially the utilization of human milk and/or lactose-free protein hydrolyzate-based formulas and the adequate correction of the fecal losses, is required to allow complete recovery from the damage caused by this devastating enteropathogenic agent.

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