Weekly Task - Topic 7

Wicked Problem:

 

Problem Definition

Nareen - Obesity is one of a common chronic complex disease where excessive fat deposits in one’s body when consuming too many calories, more than the energy used by the body (Brazier, 2021). According to World Health Organization (WHO) (2024), almost 16% of adults in the world are obese and according to Ganbold (2021), 15.6% of Malaysians are obese, which is the highest in the ASEAN region.

               The Gastrointestinal Society conducted a survey on their website. From this survey, there were several pinpoints that can be discussed. 72% of respondents experienced stigma in their life due to their size, some even stated that they were scared to see doctor because they feel like a failure which contributes to poor mental health where 64% of respondents choose 8 out of 10 where 10 means obesity affects their mental health (Attara, 2024).

             To add on, interviews were conducted on people with obesity and one of the interviewees said that they have a much harder time doing daily tasks like walking up the stairs and it is tiring. Another interviewee mentioned that they are scared of what the future will bring, like health concerns such as diabetes, heart attack and such. Furthermore, the challenges to beat obesity according to the interviewees are difficulty in finding motivation to lose weight and the inability to maintain a healthy lifestyle (Imhagen et al., 2022). These findings highlight the problem and effects of obesity on people. {235 words}

User Persona

Sze Jay - 

Figure 1 User Persona of William Johnson

Storyboard

  Figure 2 Diet plan according to time of availability for healthy lifestyle (Khadia, 2022).

Chong - The plans for reducing obesity are shown in the provided storyboard. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, the scenario suggests selecting a well-balanced and healthy meal plan based on the individual's availability and time constraints. With only one click from their phone, users may utilize the "GROW Nutrition" application to keep an eye on their lifestyle. The opportunity to browse the app's site then dives into learning how to adhere to a diet plan for reliable and ideal outcomes. Furthermore, experimenting with popular subjects like skin nutrition and mental wellness might provide more fruitful outcomes than a diet plan alone. Users can also track their progress and set achievable goals through the app, making it easier to stay motivated and on track with their health journey. Additionally, the app offers personalized recommendations and tips to help users make informed decisions about their nutrition and overall well-being. Starting a healthy living journey with an app-based general nutrition plan is a terrific idea. Following the strategy for a few weeks will result in noticeable improvements for users' health and time management, which will elevate their mood and overall quality of life (Khadia, 2022). {200 words}

Solutions
Role: Government

Luven - One of the preventive measures to curb the societal problem of obesity is initiatives from the government, for instance the European Union initiative called “Platform on Diet and Physical Activity” (Lean & Lara, 2006). This created commitments from food makers and advertisers to push a more healthier diet. The government also should educate consumers on the detrimental effects of unhealthy food products through food labeling and community campaigns. Media participation would also come in handy, but the government would need to communicate efficiently. Hence, people can make healthier choices, resisting the temptation of junk food (Verduin, 2005).

           Physical activities should also be endorsed by the government which will not only promote a healthier lifestyle, but bring together distinct committees.  Apart from that, the government and the food industry should cooperate to ensure healthier food ingredients could be sourced, forming low calorie and nutritious foods. Allocating more funds in research and development for better food technologies can aid this initiative (Verduin, 2005).

             The government should also reevaluate the architectural plan of the town, as a vicinity with fast food around every corner tend to have higher obese rates. Synonymous to its name "fast" food, unhealthy food tend to be a more convenient and cheaper option for people. Therefore, these outlets should be replaced with healthier food spots while reducing the cost of nutritious foods, increasing the availability and affordability of a proper meal (Cagan, 2018). {230 words}

Role: Individual

Naviin - Obesity presents a significant issue affecting individuals across various age groups, from young people to those in middle age. The issue of obesity is often viewed as primarily an individual concern rather than being predominantly influenced by external factors. While perceived as challenging to address, obesity can be prevented and treated through various lifestyle changes (Kushner, 2014).

           The foremost step involves transitioning current dietary habits towards healthier options. Reducing calorie intakes is important in reducing weight but another factor also contributes in maintaining the reduced weight (Kushner, 2014). Physical activities are equally important to make sure obesity does not relapse in the coming times. Several workouts are useful for individual with obesity, such as a simple activity like walking. This activity requires little to no equipment to begin with, it can be done anytime as long as the individual sets clear goals for themselves. While it may be an easy task, it is advised to start slowly to prevent any injuries to the individual's body (Frey, 2022).

               For extreme cases, obesity can be treated with bariatric surgery. The operative procedure is a surgery that make changes to digestive system for individuals with obesity. Although it can hold out for a long time, the surgery also brings some risks that individuals should be aware of (Kizy et al., 2017). {215 words}

References

Lean, M. & Lara, J. (2006). ABC of obesity: Strategies for preventing obesity. PubMed Central, 333(7575), 959. doi: 10.1136/bmj.333.7575.959

Verduin, P. (2005). Solutions to obesity: perspectives from the food industry. Science Direct, 82(1), 259–261. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/82.1.259S 

Cagan, R. (2018, September 17). Individual, Societal Changes Needed to Combat Obesity. American College of Cardiology. https://www.acc.org/about-acc/press-releases/2018/09/17/13/52/individual-societal-changes-needed-to-combat-obesity

Khadia, M. (2022, September 19). Case study: Design a user experience to help tutor young adults in Nutrition. Medium. https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/case-study-design-a-user-experience-to-help-tutor-young-adults-in-nutrition-fe36d8fdf210 

Attara, G. (2024, March 15). Obesity survey results. Gastrointestinal Society. https://badgut.org/obesity-survey-results/ 

World Health Organization (WHO). (2024, March 1). Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

Ganbold, S. (2021, March 29). ASEAN: obesity prevalence by country 2019. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1179519/asean-obesity-prevalence-by-country/

Imhagen, A., Karlsson, J., Jansson, S., & Anderzén‐Carlsson, A. (2022). A lifelong struggle for a lighter tomorrow: A qualitative study on experiences of obesity in primary healthcare patients. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(5–6), 834–846. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16379

Frey, M. (2022, November 4). How to Start a Workout Routine If You’re Overweight. Verywell Fit. https://www.verywellfit.com/best-workouts-if-youre-overweight-3495993

Kushner, R. (2014). Weight loss strategies for treatment of obesity - Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. Science Direct, 56(4), 465–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2013.09.005

Kizy, S., Jahansouz, C., Wirth, K., Ikramuddin, S., & Leslie, D. (2017). Bariatric Surgery: a perspective for Primary care. Diabetes Spectrum, 30(4), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds17-0034

Brazier, Y. (2021, April 19). What is obesity, and what causes it? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323551#too-many-calories