Social Models Of Health : The Biomedical Model And The Social Model Essay

This particular model is well established in today’s modern communities. However, there are certain disadvantages of the said model. It does not take into consideration social aspects such as standard of living and the financial system as a whole. There are several other factors other than biological that are responsible for an illness in individuals such as hierarchy and power that vastly affects a person’s health in today’s world.

In recent decades, obesity has grown to become considered an epidemic. In Natalie Boreo’s book “Killer Fat”, she discusses this obesity epidemic along with its social, political, economic, and moral influences. A number of factors contribute to the high instances of obesity; a person’s lifestyle, eating habits, culture, sedentary behaviors, activity levels, socioeconomic status, among many others. Sociologists seek to understand the physical, emotional and social influences involving obesity. Boreo brings about the thought-provoking point that throughout history, epidemics were considered to be infectious diseases; though in recent years, this term has loosened to include diseases and conditions that are

Nearly a third of adult Americans are obese (NCHS 2003). The occurrence of obesity in the United States’ adult population has more than doubled in the last 25 years, from about 15 percent in 1976 to more than 30 percent in 2000. Since obesity in the US has reached epidemic levels, it is important to understand as many aspects of the social determinants of this disease as possible. Obesity is not a standalone disorder; rather it has caused increases in increasing risks of disability, related diseases, and death as well as important and burdensome increases in the cost of health care (Allison, Zannolli, and Narayan 1999; Wang et al. 2003). Further, obesity is estimated as contributing to almost 15 percept of deaths in the US each year (Allison and Fontaine et al. 1999; McGinnis and Forge 1993; Rogers, Hummer, and Krueger 2003; Sturm 2002).

Obesity has grown so much it can now be said to have replaced smoking as the number one preventable cause of diseases in America. Even though the obese have to be responsible when deciding what and how much to eat, society is what not only created obesity but also discriminates against them. The media, food market, and the rapidly advancing technology are all factors that influence not only the increase in obesity rates, but also the psychological status of the obese.

This topic will explore the subject of obesity in today’s society and the people that are affected by this. There has been an increased in obesity rates in the United States alone according to an article by Patricia Eilerman et al in its abstract (462); there is some charts and evidence to support this authors’ claims in this subject. This may be a significant research topic because obesity is a common issue that goes on; obesity can lead to a lot of health problems and decrease one’s state of health. This subject is important because it is seen as a taboo with someone who works in a medical field; a doctor must think twice to mention the subject of obesity to a patient if it is a cause for this concern which ultimately can lead into a lot

The basic aim of the paper is to carry out research work on the social concern which I have selected obesity. The topic of obesity has been selected because it has become a major social concern of the United States as well as other industrialized countries. Information related to the research of obesity will be helpful for determining major causes and adverse consequences which are associated with obesity in the U.S. This topic was selected with the hopes in finding effective ways which can be used for preventing the ever increasing numbers of obesity in the world. While a lot of people try to blame children, and even adults, being overweight and obese on genetics, that does not play as crucial of a role as people try to make it sounds. Some

The social/ecological model of public health is a multilevel system that emphasizes on the linkages among several factors or determinants affecting health from an individual level to a larger social network (Coreil, 2010). This model is organized according to five hierarchical levels of influence: intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and society (Coreil, 2010). Intrapersonal level can include biological and psychological factors such as genetics, cognition, and personality; interpersonal level is identified as home, family, and peer group influences; organizational level include work and school settings, civic associations, and health care organization; the community level is identified with factors such as ethnicity, social class, social capital, public facilities, and built environments; at last, the society level include policy issues, national ethos and cultural values, infrastructure, economics, and education (Coreil, 2010). The social/ecological model is important in public health because it looks and examines a health problem or an individual’s outcome on a bigger context, and helps organize and identify opportunity for interventions and how effective these interventions can affect the public’s health.

Many different models of health exist, generally, falling into two categories: a biomedical and a social model. Both of these models are important in health systems over the last 150 years, although recently there has been a stronger emphasizes on social models. Wade & Halligan’s (2004), report on biomedical models state that biological factors are the sole cause of a disease and all symptoms have arisen from an abnormality within the body. This model has only recently added lifestyle choices as a biological factor to a disease. It further assumes that the removed/fixed abnormality will diminish all symptoms and the body will resume to normal function.

In this readings the authors tries to inform the readers about the empirical and theoretical literature that can help explain the different factors that might push or pull an individual from obtaining proper healthcare. To help the readers understand the main concepts the authors included two case studies. The first case study was about a woman name Jan, who is the mother of four kids, is unemployed and is having a hard time supporting her family. The second case study was about Susana who is married to an abusive husband despite of her loyalty to him. With both of these case studies the authors explains that Social Determinants of Health affects every one of us one way or another and that it will take more

Biomedical and social models are important in understanding the causes of health issues around the world. Increasing rates of non-communicable diseases in contrast to communicable diseases mean that social models have become more relevant over the past 150 years. Smoking related diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are non-communicable and in developed nations the rates of this diseases are increasing. Social models such as the biopsychosocial model and the Dahlgren and Whitehead model can help explain the increasing trends but in different ways and this is what the essay will be exploring.

The way health is currently approached differs to how it was addressed 150 years ago. This change has been brought about by the extensive researches and advances that have taken place in the medical field, as well as society coming to understand more that causes of illness and disease are not solely classified by biological factors. This assignment will compare the biomedical model and social models, and discuss why the latter have become more relevant over the last 150 years. It will also examine the effectiveness of the social models of health to explain the high rates of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) we have in NZ (NZ).

Several factors contribute to a person’s health status and these factors are sometimes referred to as the social determinants of health. Employment, stress, gender, education, and income etc. are a few to name. Besides,

Models of health include biomedical model and social models. ¬¬¬Firstly, this essay explains why as patterns of illness change over the last 150 years, social models are more relevant than biomedical model in helping us understand causes of ill health. Secondly, it discusses how social models like Biopsychosocial and Dhalgren and Whitehead’s model are effective, to a certain extent, in explaining current trends in significant health issues like smoking-related conditions in developed countries.

In today’s world, obesity has become more widespread. This could be due to more sedimentary lifestyles or it just could be that convince food has become more widely and less expensive to buy. Obesity has become part of the modern world, as the world develops problems arise with these developments. Obesity results from a number of issues including behavioural and genetics, behavioural can include: Dietary patterns, Physical activity and Medication use. So is obesity and medical condition or a societal problem? It can be seen as both; everyone has their own views on obesity. Some people say its genetic and other is societal.

With the ever increasing, waging war against stoutness. For many, the thought of Obesity putting an entire generation at risk of incalculable medical problems, has become an overwhelming thought. While yet, the masses continue to question if the pandemic is even truly considered a real sickness. In order to inform readers about this well-known pandemic named Obesity, which seems to be sweeping through the nation, and to better help readers understand the cause as to why it is ever increasing, with extensive research many reasons will point to readers as to why this condition may or may not be considered a disease after all.