Musical Cabaret Overview And Analysis Theatre Essay

Musical Cabaret Overview And Analysis Theatre Essay I choose the musical Cabaret as it is a very powerful story, set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis were rising to power; it focuses on different controversial issues of its time period. A number of issues are explored throughout the unfolding story of the cabaret such as sexual freedom, politics and anti-semitism I feel audiences will be attracted to this Musical because of its powerful lyrics and storyline, in particular, the two love stories: Cliff Bradshaw and Sally Bowles; Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz, and the way the different characters are portrayed in the musical. 2. Text: What are the ideas the playwright/ librettist is trying to express? What is the relevance of the musical to contemporary Australian audiences? The romantic love stories of two couples and the impact society has on their relationships: the story of a young English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with the young American writer Cliff Bradshaw; and the other story of a German boarding house owner Fraulein Schneider and her elderly suitor Herr Schultz, a Jewish fruit vendor. Both relationships are doomed to failure. The musical is very relevant to contemporary Australian audiences Audience will want to see this production, not only does it have excellent music but it portrays some very strong controversial issue of the time period. These issues are still present in our time. It is also important that we as Australians are reminded of the historical past and what we can learn to fight intolerance. 3. Costume, Sets and Props: What requirements are there in each of these areas? Costume Emcee wearing a long black leather coat and boots, eyes highlighted with blue eye shadow, lips coloured blood red, bowtie attached to parachute harness Each cabaret girl to portray a distinct personality need to sing, dance, act and play musical instrument, they do not have to look spectacular, look like scanky low class girls. Cabaret girls wear scant lacy undergarments with holes and ladders in the stockings. The figures onstage look ghoulish. Sally Bowles various refer to photograph images below: Ernst Ludwig dressed in trench coat in Act 1, Scene 2, and brown suite, etc. Cliff Bradshaw dressed in woollen suit and vest + tie. Herr Schultz -see photograph images below Fraulein Schneider -see photograph images below Fraulein Kost -see photograph images below Sets Act 1 Scene 1: Cabaret Scene Broken light bulbs surrounding stage see model. Act 1 Scene 2: Train Carriage Front of stage Act 1 Scene 3: Fraulein Schneider Boarding House Backdrop of 3 doors with light fixture dropped from ceiling, see model. Act 1 Scene 4: Cabaret Scene Kit Kat Klub full stage Act 1 Scene 5: Cabaret Scene Kit Kat Klub near spiral staircase Sallys dressing room Act 1 Scene 6: Cliffs room -backdrop of 3 doors left side of stage Act 1 Scene 7: Cabaret Scene full stage again, focus on kit kat klub Act 1 Scene 8: Living Room of Fraulein Schneiders boarding house right side of stage Act 1 Scene 9: Front of Stage Act 1 Scene 10: Cliffs room -backdrop of 3 doors left side of stage Act 1 Scene 11: Living Room of Fraulein Schneiders boarding house right side of stage Act 1 Scene 12: The Fruit Shop window suspended Act 2 Scene 1: Cabaret Scene Act 2 Scene 2: The Fruit Shop Act 2 Scene 3: Front of Stage Act 2 Scene 4: Cliffs room -backdrop of 3 doors left side of stage Act 2 Scene 5: Cabaret Scene Kit Kat Klub Act 2 Scene 6: Cliffs room -backdrop of 3 doors left side of stage Act 2 Scene 7: Railway Station / Cabaret Scene Props Optional 6 tables with telephones in cabaret scene Train carriage bench seat or 3 chairs Brown suitcase x 2 Black briefcase Typewriter and case Newspaper Table or large trunk and 2 chairs Optional dressing table, mirror to one side near stage left spiral staircase front of stage Suitcase (Sally) + 3 more Sally wearing fur coat 6 chairs. Girls dance on them for caberet scene Brown paper bag containing pineapple Small wind-up gramophone Table and 2 chairs Bottle of Gin + 2 glass Large gift-wrapped package Envelope with money Box containing fruit bowl Suitcase (Schultz) 4. Briefly outline how lighting and sound will contribute to your production. Prepare a list of the sound and light effects you would like and indicate when they occur in the production. Lighting Design A single normal house bayonet light hanging down in the centre of stage, this would be used for a symbolism of inside a room and the lighting which would normally illuminate the room. For this musical, the lighting design will have to be very carefully planned, in terms of position such as, angles and thrust distance. As well as fixture selection taking into consideration the physical characteristics such as beam size, wattage, luminosity, fixture type, etc. To light this stage effectively the stage will be broken up into a grid and each part of the stage will be illuminated I would like to use intelligent fixtures with conventional fixtures. The intelligent fixtures would be great for scenes like the Kit Kat Club as this scene depends on colours and shadows to give the audience the right illusion of a seedy night club. Also, the beam of an intelligent fixture is quite sharp and doesnt really produce much spill on stage so it would be fantastic for solo spots. I would incorporate the use of follow spots, as I would like to keep the show in its traditional form and in keeping with the historical context. Follow spots are good for things like the Emcee as he moves around the stage. For the cabaret scenes, use of deep blues, purples and pinks colours silhouetting the Kit Kat Club girls on stage. Lightings surrounding the stage and suspended window, door arches (e.g. I have included photos from previous shows I have designed to illustrate my ideas see at the end of this report), and the second stage level floor will be bordered with festoon lights. These lights can then be chased. I want to portray a very dingy, run down club where some of the globes will be broken or missing, at the same time as the girls on stage will look sexy, as well as giving the set a very seedy appearance. There are three main different sets common in this production: train scene, inside Fraulein Schneiders boarding house, and inside the Kit Kat Klub. Each one of these different sets has a different appearance where the lighting is used to highlight and mark the difference to the set. For the train scenes, the lighting on stage will be focused mainly in front of the proscenium line with the rest of the stage in darkness. The colours used for this particular scene will consist of open white, fixtures will not be at full intensity as I want to achieve a dull Tuscan amber appearance. Lighting in the train carriage is not really bright and the majority of the light source will be coming from windows letting in the outside light from outside lights. The second set scene is inside Fraulein Schneiders boarding house the lighting will be very much the same as in the first scene inside the train carriage. However, more of the stage will be lit, up to the back walls revealing three doors. Top level of the set remains in darkness as it is for the cabaret scenes for the Kit Kat Klub. There will be at least 3 hot spots for the boarding house scene where both Cliff and Fraulein Schneider move in most of the scenes. These hot spots will be located along the front proscenium line along the edge of the stage, and 3 lighting hotspots along in front of each door. Colours used will remain dim; most of the light on stage will look like its coming from the one hanging lighting batten as a light fixture which is incorporated into the set. The lighting will aim to show an old run-down boarding house where maintenance has been neglected. The final set is inside the Kit Kat Klub, the entire stage will be washed in purples, pinks, reds, blues and a bit of white thrusters to illuminate faces. The scene is set in a seedy and dirty-looking night club. For the lighting of this scene I want the lighting to cast a silhouette effect on the girls dancing for the cabaret numbers. As the music changes and different scenes are set in different parts of the Kit Kat Klub the lighting changes with the mood. The majority of the lighting for these scenes will be coming from sources side, top, and behind of stage. The lighting creates a powerful perspective illustrating the emotions portrayed on stage. An effect only seen when we are inside the Kit Kat Klub is the festoon lights surrounding the edges of the stage and the suspended mirror in the backdrop of the set. When inside the Kit Kat Klub these lights are just on still, but when during song numbers these lights will be chasing forward, the classic Broadway lighting effect. Main actors will be lit with use of the follow spot, the rest will remain in silhouette. Sound Design All the music for the songs would be performed live by the band/orchestra which I intend to incorporate into the production by having them seen by the audience and positioned in acting blocked areas framed upstairs in the suspended picture frame. Various sound effects will be used to help portray to the audience realism. For Act 1 Scene 2 Cliff is on a train to Berlin a screeching sound effect of a steam train travelling is used as background sound as if they are actually in a train carriage. To mark the opening of scene 2, a train whistle sound effect is used. Another effect used is of a crashing symbol to mark the change of scene. A sound effect used for act one scene 9, is of a voice of a young boy singing beautifully and the sound of a steam train in the background. Another sound effect is of a window shattering to mark the end of Act 2 scene 2. 5. Characters and actors: what kind of people are the characters of the musical? In what kind of world do they exist? If you had complete freedom of choice, what actors would you cast in your production? Emcee Sally Bowles Cliff Bradshaw Fraulein Schneider Herr Schultz Fraulein Kost Ernst Ludwig is a member of the Nazi Party and befriends Cliff Cabaret Girls Cabaret Boys are homosexual and work at the Kit Kat Klub 6. How many production crew/ staff are required to stage this production (during the season ignore pre-production)? Draw up a running crew list, with a description of what each person will be responsible for. Title Quantity Description of responsibility S7tage manager 1 Production week ensure all set building, lighting equipment, props, costumes, furniture and equipment ready. Do cue sheets, prop settings and running order Prepare assistant stage managers running plot Do lighting and sound synopsis Organise time fro technical rehearsal and dress rehearsal At technical rehearsal, make all final checks and discuss all effects with Director Time cues and calls in prompt book Finalize all elements of prompt book Attend dress rehearsal and note any problems. First night and performance run Check everything Remain calm Reset play after performances Give calls and check all actors and crew present Liaise with front of house staff Note any alterations or repairs necessary. Lighting Designer 1 Rehearsal: Go though the musical scene-by-scene with the Director to plan precise lighting details. Work out presets and cues and help stage manager to mark the prompt book Buy or hire equipment as needed Work out a lighting synopsis with the stage manager Production week: Rig and focus lighting fixtures Attend technical rehearsal and test lighting and solve problems Make final adjustments and prepare controls Lighting Operator 1 Program lighting cues as discussed during rehearsals with stage manager and director. Attend technical and dress rehearsals. Fix any problems with lighting designer. Assist with lighting designer with making final adjustments. Makes sure has all cues written in script Operate the lighting console for the session Sound Engineer/ operator 2 Attend Production meetings and rehearsals Research, planning and purchasing sound effects recordings, equipment, supplies Met with Director Hire and rig sound equipment Sound plot, mark in script with Director Attend final dress and technical rehearsals Operate the sound console for the session Orchestra 8 12 Rehearsal all music parts from the score with all members of the orchestra Conductor meets with director, stage manager and sound engineer to discuss cues for lead in and out. Organise the running of the show Attend all shows of the session, Stage Hands 4-6 Assist the stage manager. Move props and set pieces around the stage for each scene change. Organise the actors and escort and cues actors to when to come onto stage and off. Director 1 Is to organise and meet with every department to ensure that everyone is ready for the upcoming session week leading up to the opening night Polish final rehearsals. Make sure all problems have been solved before show commences. Attend light and sound plotting sessions Attend all rehearsal leading up to the show discuss notes. Set Designer 2 Attend Dress And Technical Rehearsals Make minor alterations Load in the set and help with the construction Supervise the Set Builders. Organise props Make notes of any problems in the last rehearsals leading up to opening night Make sure all props and sets have been finished been built and ready to be put in place on stage Transport set from work shop to theatre venue Costume Designer And makeup artist 6 Check all costumes are finished Make sure any last minute orders have arrived ready in time for opening night, eg wigs Attend all rehearsals leading up to show opening Have all actors in costume for the dress rehearsals Check make up, and add suggestions to individual makeup artist, check how all actors look on stage. Administration 10-12 Organise the box office Sell tickets Work in FOH; sales, bar, ushering Organise and arrange FOH displays, Print Programs Look after the audience. Organise the theatre ready for the audience members Attend final rehearsals Set Builder 6 Install the set Repair any wear and tear damagers Fix all the minor details and finishing touches to the set. Paint the set Assist the set designer 7. Design: How would you describe the imaginative world of the musical? What is its Location? What is the period of your production? The period of this production is set in Pre-World War Two 1930s in Berlin, the capital city of Germany. This should be a minimum of 300 words, and rather than giving a synopsis of the productions. Should give an understanding of what you liked about it why it inspired you. It should be a personal response to the production, and should at least touch on how the technical elements of the production supported the narrative. Wicked My experience in theatre has been with amateur productions it was exciting to see a professional show of the magnitude of Wicked. The stage for Wicked was imaginative and impressive. The lighting in Wicked was particularly inspiring and I could easily make connections to my past lighting experience such as in Wizard of Oz, an amateur production I was involved in with a similar storyline. I can see how aspects of Wicked could be incorporated into the Wizard of Oz production to make it more professional. Special effects were projected throughout the production to add to the set and properties, to portray illusions into the audience. The image of Glinda opening entrance when she descended in a bubble onto the stage was fabulous. Another example was seen in the creating of rain. I was awed by the lighting effects produced by the projectors to create the backdrop of the magical green sparkle on the backdrop of the map of Oz which was seen as the opening and closing of the production. In the final scene in Act one during the song Defining Gravity, Glinda is singing about her feelings of being scared, after she was tricked by the wizard to use her magical powers to turn the talking monkey into an evil flying monkey unable to talk. She uses her flying broom stick to escape, I was inspired by the lighting as it was used in a dramatic way as she rises into the air, use of prism scattered gobos in all 5 intelligent fixtures focuses on her as she ascended into the sky, creating a powerful silhouette of colour and rays of light in all directions, ending in a quick blackout to end the song a very powerful ending using the lighting. The use of lighting elements such as colours to create mood, gobos to add patterns and shapes allows the audience to move from reality to the imaginary world of Oz. In Wicked the attention to detail was very obvious. The use of fairy lights built into the set and the use of tracks to move sets on and off stage was amazing and resulted in an impressive production. My goal is to produce theatre as amazing and as professional as what I saw in this production especially in lighting and sound.

The Sins of Gregor Samsa of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis Essay

The Sins of Gregor Samsa of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis Gregor Samsa’s crimes originate from his intense devotion to his family, and thus in his intense devotion to his work, which in turn makes him intently devout to the conformist society that creates his world. Gregor’s crimes are not of the scope that contains what one may consider normal or standard crimes, and his motivations come from a separate set of values than those that society would consider to be the median. As a result of Gregor’s abnormal and distinctive crimes, he becomes the victim of an odd punishment that indirectly benefits all of Gregor’s previously mentioned motivations. Within the text of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s awkward punishment turns out to be his transformation into a despicable and horrid bug. Gregor’s transformation is due to his crimes, which include alienating and losing himself in his work, stealing the position of head of the house from his father, and becoming a conformist in a society th at needs deviation to define and justify its conformity. Gregor’s punishment of transformation gives him the ability to repent for all of the crimes for which he has been convicted of by himself and society and make right all of his aforementioned wrongs. Gregor’s dedication to his job remains undeniable; even directly after the metamorphosis Gregor has plans for making it to work, alibi a few moments late. However, despite his dedication, Gregor refuses to be satisfied with his job and all that it entails, most especially his treatment. â€Å"What a fate; to be condemned to work for a firm where the slightest negligence gave rise to the greatest suspicion† (Kafka 9). The disdain for his job happens to be warranted, just as his ded... ...elf, or prepare to accept the consequences, whatever they maybe. Works Cited Honig, Edwin. â€Å"The Making of Allegory.† The Metamorphosis. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. 138-142. Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. New York: Bantam Books, 1981 Kaiser, Hellmuth. â€Å"Kafka’s Fantasy of Punishment.† The Metamorphosis. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. 147-156. McNeil, Russell. â€Å"Gregor Samsa as Functional Deviant.† The Kafka Project. Feb 11,2003. Nabokov, Vladimir. â€Å"Lecture on ‘The Metamorphosis.’† The Kafka Project. Feb. 11, 2003. http://www.kafka.org/verw_issue/nabokov.htm Sokel, Walter. â€Å"Education for Tragedy.† The Metamorphosis. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. 169-186. Webster, Peter. â€Å"Franz Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’ as Death and Resurrection Fantasy.† The Metamorphosis. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. 157-168.

Professional Regulation and Criminal Liability Essay

The trust and care of patients to health care providers has been on the decline for several decades (David A. Thom, 2004) Crimes committed by health care professionals, occur at all levels. Patients are more involved with their care, due to more accessible resources on the internet. Patients can research their physician criminal charges. The internet allows the patients to obtain health care information. In addition, the burden is on the health care providers. Although health care providers are aware they can review the criminal history, negligence still occurs. Despite the awareness of patient and health care providers, health care crimes, such as narcotics, are ongoing. This paper will discuss health care professional regulation and criminal liability. Health Care Professional Neurologist A Neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of the nervous systems, the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves (Educational Requirements for being a Neurologist, 2014). Dr. Lambry, a neurologist from Kaiser Permanente, stated â€Å"It takes approximately 12 years to complete your education, pre-med and internship.† The first step for potential neurologist is get a science degree, which averages three to four years (Educational Requirements for being a Neurologist, 2014). In their junior year, neurologist must take and pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is a standardized exam required for admission by all medical schools (Educational Requirements for being a Neurologist, 2014). Once they pass the MCAT, neurologist must submit an application to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) (Educational Requirements for being a Neurologist, 2014). AAMC operates the American Medical College Application Service and the Electronic Residency Application Service and AACOM provides  services to its members, collects data and operates the online application for students (Educational Requirements for being a Neurologist, 2014). Next is medical school, on the average medical school takes four years. The school must be accredited by Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). LCME is an accrediting body for educational programs at the schools of medicine (Educational Requirements for being a Neurologist, 2014). The first two years focus on coursework and the last two is rotation through medical specialties. Once complete they will be prepared to become board certified neurologist. This will earn them, their M.D. degree. According to Chron neurologist must complete part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). USMLE is a multi-part examination and physicians must pass this examination before they can practice medicine. The final step is the internship with other senior neurologist. At the end of the internship, neurologist will have to take another part of the USMLE, so they can practice un-supervised. Neurologist must complete additional training on the area they are going specialize in. Areas include brain injury, sleep disorders, pain disorders, vascular neurology, epilepsy, hospice and palliative medicine, neurodevelopment disorders (Educational Requirements for being a Neurologist, 2014). Another certification needs to be completed by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). ABPN promotes excellence in practice, certification and maintenance of certification process (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2014). Each state has its own medical board that controls licensing of physicians, so they can practice medicine (Medical Law and Ethics, 2012). The Florida Board of Medicine will license, discipline and rehabilitate physicians, so that they are fit and competent for the public. Practicing medicine in Florida, is a privilege (Florida Board of Medicine, 2014)).† Identify the civil complaint process for patients of suspected professional incompetence The medical board receives and reviews complaints on physicians from patients, staff and other physicians. The first step is to file a complaint in writing to the medical board. The next step is to identify the alleged misconduct or incompetence. Some examples are refusing service because of age, sex or race. Misconduct and incompetence allegations are kept confidential, due to the seriousness. These allegations are serious and must have strong evidence of a violation, before a hearing can be held  (Florida Board of Medicine, 2014). The regulatory agencies investigating allegations, determining, applying disciplinary action The medical board will investigate complaints about the physician. If founded, it will take any disciplinary action needed. The following are types of complaints that a physician can be discipline for: substandard care, prescribing issues, sexual misconduct, impairment, unlicensed practice, unprofessional conduct and office practice issues. The board will not provide any legal advice to either the physician or his/her legal representative (Florida Board of Medicine, 2014). Identify criminal liabilities for the health care professional Complaints that involve a patient death or serious bodily injury caused by the physician are given the highest priority and forwarded to the law enforcement agency in that jurisdiction. These complaints are given the highest priority, due to criminal charges. The board will provide the physician with sufficient notice of any charges and then perform a thorough i nvestigation of the charges (Medical Law and Ethics, 2012). Criminal cases for a physician begin when they are accused of breaking the law. A physician found guilty of criminal charges will have their licensed suspended or revoked, with possible fines and possible prison time. Risk management strategies and quality assurance program to reduce the risk negligence Risk management strategies are monitored by the Agency for Health Care Administration for the State of Florida. It provides reports, tracks, trending and problem resolution for health care providers and facilities. This regulatory agencies, also provides education and training for doctors and their staff. This is to make sure they are in state compliance with rules and regulations (Office of Risk Management and Patient Safety, 2014). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has such policies that must be followed by doctors and staff for patient right to privacy and confidentiality. Health care professionals must comply and follow rules and regulations (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 2014). The federal, state and local agencies are the oversight of all health care providers and health care clinics, hospitals and outpatient care. When the agencies receives a complaint, it is forwarded to the proper licensed board for an investigation into the claim. If there is a violation, the board will take all disciplinary actions, to include; reprimands, fines, training and education or loss of licensed to  practice. The quality assurance program for the state of Florida is maintained by the Florida Health Department. It provides quality and variety activities that control the entry and ongoing performance of health facilities and physicians. There is continuous improvement activities to measure and improve patient care (Florida Health, 2014) The process for criminal charges for the described criminal behavior A physician can have their license taken or suspended for professional criminal charges. A case of criminal charges start when a physician is accused of breaking the law. One of the major problems is the unauthorized prescribing of narcotics. A Florida physician criminal charge was of professional, it included falsifying three applications for Drug Enforcement and Administration (DEA) and unauthorized prescriptions for controlled substance, in which it lead to a drug overdose of a patient. Diversion Control a department within DEA, is to prevent, detect and investigate controlled drugs, while ensuring legitimate medical needs. His licensed were revoked immediately and denied for reinstatement, as recently as November 2014 (United States Department of Justice, 2014). Conclusion Heath care professionals, are expected to have professional manner at all times. Physicians diagnose, treat illnesses, disease, injuries and save lives. Patients file malpractice or negligence suits against physicians. Although health care providers are aware they can review the criminal history, negligence still occurs. This brings to a conclusion on how professional regulation and criminal liability is addressed by the Florida Board of Medicine. The medical board receives and reviews complaints on physicians from patients, staff and other physicians. The medical board will investigate complaints about the physician. Criminal cases for a physician begin when they are accused of breaking the law. A physician can have their license taken or suspended for professional criminal charges. The regulatory agencies, also provides education and training for doctors and their staff. References American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. (2014). Retrieved from American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology: http://www.abpn.com/ Bonnie F. Fremgen, P. (2012). Medical Law and Ethics. Prentice Hall. Complaint Information. (2012). Retrieved from The Medical Board of California: http://www.mbc.ca.gov/ David A. Thom, M. A. (2004, July). Measuring Patients’ Trust In Physicians When Assessing Quality of Care. Retrieved from Health Affairs: http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/23/4/124.full.pdf+html Educational Requirements for being a Neurologist. (2014). Retrieved from Educational Portal: http://education-portal.com/articles/Become_a_Neurologist_Step-by-Step_Career_Guide.html Florida Board of Medicine. (2014, October 15). Retrieved from Florida Board of Medicine: http://flboardofmedicine.gov/ Florida Health. (2014). Retrieved from Florida Health Department: http://www.floridahealth.gov/index.html Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. (2014). Retrieved from United States Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/p rivacy/ Office of Diversion Control. (2014). Retrieved from United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/actions/2014/fr1118.htm Office of Risk Management and Patient Safety. (2014). Retrieved from Agency for Health Care Administration: http://ahca.myflorida.com/SCHS/RiskMgtPubSaftey/RiskManagement.shtml

Health Essay Online For Free - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2480 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Medicine Essay Type Argumentative essay Tags: Smoking Essay Did you like this example? This essay will focus on the relationship between lifestyle factors and poor health outcomes, and will examine how effective interventions are in improving public health. In the 21st century it is possible for individuals to avoid a large burden of ill-health, and a third of all deaths are recorded as premature, meaning that lifestyle changes undertaken earlier in life could have prevented them (van der Brandt, 2011). These premature deaths equate to 44 years of lost life per 1000 people, and the main causes are smoking, lack of physical activity, obesity, and poor nutrition (Behrens et al, 2013). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Health Essay Online For Free" essay for you Create order There is also considerable economic impact from preventable illness and premature death (Behrens et al, 2013). The evidence highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle is significant, with several studies demonstrating that lifestyle changes in diet, levels of physical activity, cessation of smoking, and better nutrition improve the health of entire communities (Doubeni, 2012, Li, 2014). However, one of the greatest challenges in implementing lifestyle interventions can be ensuring that the interventions are enacted in an effective way in the areas of greatest need, which are often areas of deprivation (Doubeni, 2012). Smoking Smoking is the current single largest cause of preventable illness and early death in the UK, although it seems likely that this will soon be superseded by obesity (Peterson, 2015). Smokers aged between 45 and 64 are three times more likely to have early deaths compared to non-smokers, and double for those aged between 65 and 84 (Peterson, 2015). There were 106,000 deaths in the UK (86,500 in England alone) in 2010 which were primarily linked to smoking (Oza, 2011). The main causes of death were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancers (in particular lung cancer, but also cancers of the oesophagus, pharynx, larynx, bladder, pancreas, and mouth), and circulatory disease, in particular peripheral vascular disease (Oza, 2011). In addition to this, there is a 60% increase in the levels of mortality in smokers from circulatory disease, which rises to 85% in those classed as heavy smokers (Carter, 2015). Overall, 1 in 5 premature deaths are directly attributable to circulatory dise ase caused by smoking (Carter, 2015). Those exposed to second-hand smoke on a regular basis have a 25% increased risk of circulatory disease (Carter, 2015). Complete smoking cessation will reduce overall morbidity and mortality, but any reduction will reduce the risk of developing aforementioned diseases (Jha, 2013). Current guidance states that all smokers should be advised to stop smoking and should be offered evidence-based interventions (Cahill, 2013). Examples of interventions include school-based interventions which aim to prevent the uptake of smoking by informing pupils about the health effects of tobacco use in addition to social and economic aspects of smoking (Cahill. 2013) and community-based interventions such as cessation support groups. In addition to this, research has demonstrated that all healthcare professionals can have a positive effect on a persons decision to stop smoking and so all should be aware of how to direct those who wish to stop to local stop smoki ng service providers (Cahill, 2013, Jha, 2013). Reviews have demonstrated that the most effective of these interventions are community-based, such as cessation support groups; however this is a problematic conclusion as many support groups were only run for the duration of the study with no longer term follow-up, meaning that longevity of smoking cessation in participants could not be established (Cahill, 2013, Jha, 2013). In addition to this, the sheer diversity of many of the school-based interventions makes generalisation of results difficult, particularly when tailoring interventions which target high-risk groups, including low income communities (Cahill, 2013, Jha, 2013). Weight management Behaviour and lifestyle choices are also fundamental factors in a persons weight, and are key factors in the development of obesity (Cahill, 2013). A combination of an unhealthy diet and little or no physical activity are major risk factors for becoming overweight or obese, in addition to a number of other chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and some forms of cancer (Cahill, 2013, Jha, 2013). Physical activity is a key factor in determining energy utilisation, which is key in both weight loss and control, (Cahill, 2013). Current recommendations from the Department of Health (DoH, 2011) stipulate that adults spend at least 150 minutes a week performing aerobic activity of at least moderate intensity, and children over the age of 5 should spend at least 60 minutes doing physical activity each day (Doh, 2011). However, recent research has demonstrated that even those who exercise at the recommended levels are still at higher risk of poor health outcomes if they are still otherwise sedentary for a large amount of time (Nicholas et al, 2015). It is important that physical activity is incorporated into regular daily life, as research has shown that this is at least as effective, if not more effective, than weight loss through a supervised exercise programme, either in schools or in a community setting (Plasqui, 2013). Further research has also shown that regular aerobic exercise is the most effective form of exercise when reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and can also be used as an effective treatment for peripheral vascular disease (Plasqui, 2013). Despite a number of interventions such as Strength and Flex, Forever Fit, and increased funding for classes such as yoga which particularly target older adults there is still a clear disparity between the targets and the actual levels of physical activity (Sallis, 2012). Reviews of the literature suggest that this may be in part due to level of importance ascri bed to exercise within the community, and also in part due to concerns around participating and therefore increasing the risk of falls or injury in the elderly (Sallis, 2012). Plasqui (2013) demonstrated that if these concerns are addressed before the programme is commenced, there will be a statistically significant increase in the levels of satisfaction reported, and an increase in the amount of time spent participating in exercise; however, there was no attempt to increase the level of importance ascribed to exercise within the participants. There is also a variation of physical activity according to social class and ethnic background, with black Caribbean men and women being the most likely to be physically active, and those from south Asia the least likely to achieve recommended levels (Sallis, 2012), although no clear cause for this has been established (Sallis, 2012). It is important to note that within this study, there was no robust method for validating the levels of activi ty reported; therefore, the levels of activity reported may not accurately reflect reality. Levels of decreased physical activity can lead to obesity, which occurs when the intake of energy from food and drinks is greater than the total energy expended by the body through maintenance of normal homeostasis, the bodys metabolism, and overall physical activity (Carlsson, 2015). Current industrialised nations can be described as obesity-causing, meaning that it can be difficult for the population to maintain a healthy weight (Carlsson, 2015). This is usually because there is an abundance of highly calorific foods and drinks available and an increase in sedentary lifestyles due to an over-reliance on motorised transport and a decrease in physical activity (Plasqui, 2013). There is also strong evidence to suggest that eating habits which are established in childhood through cultural and familial traits are often upheld into adulthood (Carlsson, 2015). Research into obesity and obesity interventions generally lack specific details about effective approaches or individual programmes, and guidance extrapolated from this research is quite vague (Ding, 2012). An overall review of the literature shows a great variation in study design and other parameters, such as standardised service settings, long-term follow ups and their intervals, cost-effectiveness data, and intervention groups which included minority or those deemed to be more vulnerable (Ding, 2012). There is clear research evidence which states that obesity interventions should be focused on both diet and physical activity together rather than attempting to modify either in isolation, as research data demonstrates that a combined approach is more effective for weight outcomes (Ding, 2012). As obesity interventions should be multi-faceted, it is important to recognise the role of behaviour change and to develop strategies which encourage increased levels of physical activity and improve eating behaviours, as we ll as the quality of the food selected (Wadden, 2012). In addition, many interventions can also be delivered to families as well as individuals (Wadden, 2012). Nutrition Nutrition is not just a key component in tackling obesity, but is in itself a key area of interest when considering public health outcomes. It is estimated that up to a third of deaths from cancer may be attributable to unhealthy diets (Lang, 2012). In addition to this, the World Health Organisation accredit almost 5% of the overall disease burden in industrialised nations to poor nutrition, specifically to a low intake of fruit and vegetables, and achieving an intake of 5 fruit and vegetables portions per day is viewed as second only to a reduction in smoking when preventing cancer (Lang, 2012). It is also well documented that an intake of 5 fruit and vegetable portions will reduce the risk of stroke by 6% and the risk of heart disease by 4%, will contribute to other nutritional goals such as weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight, and will contribute significantly to controlling diabetes and lowering blood pressure (Popkin, 2012). Research in this area has shown that when ex perimental groups increased their vitamin and mineral intake by either increasing their dietary intake of fruit and vegetables or by taking dietary supplements which contained isolated vitamins and minerals, the isolated dietary supplements did not show the same beneficial effects as an increased level of fruit and vegetable intake (Popkin, 2012), although this was a short-term study and therefore this data does not indicate the long-term impact that additional dietary supplements may have. There are a number of factors which may present difficulties in increasing the average fruit and vegetable consumption from the current levels of less than 3 a day, which is lower still among those on low incomes and among children (Yang, 2012). The first of these factors addresses access and availability and is concerned with environmental variables, such as location, range of produce available, and costs (Yang, 2012). The second of these is focused on the individual, and addresses more perso nal motivations such as beliefs and knowledge, habits, and taste (Popkin, 2012). Programmes aiming to improve nutrition and address obesity are addressing these issues by working with the food industry to change food labelling, establish goals for reducing the levels of fat and sugar in food and improving the ease of access to healthy foods (Popkin, 2012). As these changes would be relatively simple to implement, it is concerning to see that research shows that figures for childrens consumption of fruit and vegetables remain low (Yang, 2012). The average consumption is around 15% of the daily recommended intake, with poorer areas reporting lower averages of less than 10% (Yang, 2012). Perhaps the most important factor in this will be the knowledge and motivations of the care provider and it is important that programmes which aim to improve childrens consumption of fruit and vegetables also includes the wider family (Popkin, 2012). In conclusion, there is strong evidence that life style interventions can be effectively employed to improve public health in the short-term where there is funding to do so and where there are clear examples of effective strategies and follow-ups within research. However it is important to note that users of these services will often require input from more than one intervention service, and that consideration of integration of some key services such as smoking cessation and weight management should be considered. There is a clear need for longer follow-ups within all intervention research and it is important to recognise that many of these interventions will have numerous strands, targeting both individuals and their wider social groups. It can thereby be seen that lifestyle factors and poor health outcomes are clearly irrevocably linked, and that any intervention put in place to prevent poor health outcomes should involve both the individual and the wider community in which they are involved. This may act as a source of support a nd encouragement, and may be instrumental in motivating individuals. Although a large number of these interventions require individual motivation, it is also important to note that in order for these interventions to be successful, individuals and communities must be able to take effective steps to achieve their aims. For example, in the case of childhood nutrition, unless there is ready access to healthy and nutritious food, any educational programmes aimed to increase awareness will only be partially successful. Lifestyle factors and public health can therefore be seen to be the responsibility of not only the individual, but those providing the intervention and the community as a whole. References Behrens, G., Fischer, B., Kohler, S., Park, Y., Hollenbeck, A., and Leitzmann, M. (2013). Health lifestyles behaviours and decreased risk of mortality in a large prospective study of U.S men and women, European Journal of Epidemiology, 28(5), pp.361-372. Cahill, L. (2013). 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