In today’s blog, I want to discuss health promotion and different parties that may be involved. What many do not know is only about “5% of total health care funding goes to public health.” Public health is responsible for health promotion and prevention; it looks at keeping Canadians healthy and thus reduces the burden on the health care system with sick individuals. Why is it only 5%? The reason is there is a greater focus on treatment, which can be measured; unlike its siblings health promotion and prevention where we cannot definitely state it caused individuals and communities to remain healthy. Nonetheless, more funding should be given to public health.
Can businesses help Canadians improve their health? What about Wal-Mart? Recently in the National Post, it was reported that the U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has teamed up with Wal-Mart to make “healthier” foods more affordable to Americans. Wal-Mart will “reduce fats and sugars in packaged food and cut the price of fruits and vegetables”. I consider this health promotion because it is seeking to decrease the economic barrier that inhibits low-income families from choosing to eat a well-balanced meal. Thus, it is targeting two of the 12 social determinants of health: income and income distribution, and food insecurity.
What are Wal-Mart’s motives? Is it truly to help Americans live healthier lives? Maybe not. Businesses wants to create a clean image, to give their customers what they want, and thus potentially increase their sales. However, I do applaud Wal-Mart. Will this development cross over the border? Will Canadians see the same healthier options? If so, how much of an effect will it have on Canadian populations? I can say it depends. I do not think it will impact all Canadians. Take Downtown Toronto as an example. How many Wal-Marts can you find Downtown? None. Would a Wal-Mart ever be built Downtown? It is very unlikely, because there simply isn’t any room for one to be built. What about the current grocery stores located Downtown? Can they create a plan similar to Wal-Mart’s? It may be possible, but it may take a long time for such developments to occur.
What implications will this have on me? As a nutrition student and a future nutrition professional, I feel like my duty is to promote health. Independent of whether the food industry does or does not improve the contents of their packaged foods (i.e. less sodium and sugar), I need to educate family, friends, and clients (individuals or communities) how to read food labels to make healthier choices between similar foods. I already attempt to choose healthier alternatives for myself, but I also know the economic barriers that prevent this from occurring. Thus, I also need to account for these economic factors in future practice.
For those of you who haven’t seen the latest public service announcement from Health Canada, I’d like to leave you with the video . This is a way that Health Canada is trying to help Canadians chose healthier options, and thus, promoting health.
Sources:
Lecture notes from January 26th, 2011
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