Social Determinants of Health, Disaster Vulnerability, Severe and Morbid Obesity in Adults: Triple Jeopardy?
1
Department of Primary Health Care & General Practice, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington 6242, New Zealand
2
Joint Centre for Disaster Research, School of Psychology, Massey University & GNS Science, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14(12), 1452; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121452
Received: 30 September 2017
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Revised: 13 November 2017
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Accepted: 22 November 2017
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Published: 24 November 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Determinants of Health Inequities and Prevention)
Severe and morbid obesity are associated with highly elevated risks of adverse health outcomes and the prevalence of severe obesity is increasing globally. To date, disaster literature has not considered severe and morbid obesity as a specific vulnerability, despite reports of people being left behind during disasters because of their body size, shape or weight. The complex causes of obesity are associated with the social determinants of health and one’s potential vulnerability to disasters. The absence of appropriate considerations may lead to people being exposed to disproportionate and potentially avoidable risk. The intersection of the social determinants of health, disaster vulnerability, severe and morbid obesity is explored. Previously identified vulnerable groups are also represented in severe and morbid obesity data. This poses the prospect for ‘triple jeopardy’ compounding the social determinants of health, disaster vulnerability and considerations with and for people with morbid obesity. When working to reduce disaster risk for vulnerable groups, the author proposes specific consideration is required to ensure ‘all-of-society engagement and partnership’ in an inclusive, accessible and non-discriminatory manner, to ensure no one is left behind.
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Keywords:
disaster risk reduction; disaster vulnerability; social determinants of health; severe and morbid obesity; health inequity
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MDPI and ACS Style
Gray, L. Social Determinants of Health, Disaster Vulnerability, Severe and Morbid Obesity in Adults: Triple Jeopardy? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1452. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121452
AMA Style
Gray L. Social Determinants of Health, Disaster Vulnerability, Severe and Morbid Obesity in Adults: Triple Jeopardy? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14(12):1452. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121452
Chicago/Turabian StyleGray, Lesley. 2017. "Social Determinants of Health, Disaster Vulnerability, Severe and Morbid Obesity in Adults: Triple Jeopardy?" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 12: 1452. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121452
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