Public awareness and food habit

Among the numerous contributing factors of modern life style our food habit is the most important area of concern. In what way or why packaged food or ready to eat food or more generally speaking junk food is a public health threat does not need much of public awareness as the connection between the junk food and the diseases are already a well known fact. But what lies as the problem is that why a vast majority of people being aware of the serious health consequences are willingly take consume these type of food stuff. Let us focus our attention to the life style factors which normally makes the individual bound to the habit of taking these types of food items and secondly let us briefly see the inevitable connection between the modern food habit and various diseases which in the recent years have reached almost epidemic proportion. By zeroing our attention and discussion to these important concerns we can have a better understanding of why junk food is a public health threat.
Consumer behavior and food habit

The social bondages of yesteryears have already vanished to a great extent and with the absence of social and familial relations men tend to become more egocentric and propelled to lead a kind of life where he is not only always alone but has to choose from the consumerist choices presented to him by the gigantic production system. This variety of consumerist choices are present in every sphere of our living hood and daily consuming needs. Food chain or processed food serves the regular need of food intake of millions of people worldwide and a considerable portion of these consumers are almost dependent on the supply of packaged food from various food chains or food stores. It sounds really ridiculous about the health hazards associated with these food items but almost all the scientific studies regarding the quality and contamination level of these foods have found their severe effects on the diabolic and digestive system of the human body. From the medical observation into the causes of several diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, jaundice, liver disorder and a lot of chronic diseases it is now a well appreciated truth that junk food is a public health threat. But in spite of the well spread awareness and appreciation of the fact of junk food or processed food being the root source of many diseases, people are not being able to avoid these food stuffs. Among the upwardly mobile, educated and professionally ambitious population junk food or fast food or ready to eat food staffs are still serving as the viable food option for saving time or in other words for getting an extra hour free for potential investment in their respective professional fields or entertainment. Another important factor is the greed factor towards the mouth watering sensual appeal of these food stuffs which accelerates the untimely appetite of many people and wet their taste buds.

Even such wide number of diseases and newly emerging life threats could not cure us from our persistent habit of consuming outside food stuff from harmful predisposition. Socially advanced and educated community does not remain to be convinced that junk food is a public health threat, but until the whole problem of modern life style cannot be put together in question food habit cannot alone be changed.

John Hopkins University
The full time 11 month master degree program in public health offered by this university prepares the student to address the global public health concerns of present day with a interdisciplinary approach and most advanced scientific methodologies.

Harvard University
No university in the world has such combination of versatility and academic excellence as this world famous university is truly known for. The Master of Public Health degree offered by Harvard School of Public Health (MPH) is one of the most highly rated educational programs in the discipline of public health which prepares the students for the top level responsibilities in various state, federal and international public health organizations or research positions and academic institutions or private sector jobs.

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
The school of public health of this university deserves to be mentioned with utmost importance in the list of top 5 public health schools offering master degree in the discipline because of its great reputation as one of finest universities in the country in the education of various health disciplines. The master of public health offered by this university focuses on various aspects of modern day challenges in maintaining public health and hygiene.

University of California – Berkley
The school of public health of this university has a wide interdisciplinary approach in preparing its students for the top job responsibilities concerning the professional practice of the discipline. The specialty areas of the master degree in public health offered by this university include ageing, public health nutrition, global health, maternal and child health, multicultural health, etc.

Columbia University
Mailman school of public health of this university offers both Master of Science degree in public health and Master of public health degree. This school deserves to be rated among the top 5 public health schools offering master degree in the discipline because of sheer reputation of its academic excellence and career focused course curriculum with the view of preparing the students for major professional roles in the national and international public health organizations.

Various rating and evaluating agencies have been consulted in preparing this list of top 5 public health schools offering master degree in the discipline.

The Education Sector
With a Master degree in public health you can have lot of opportunities to be employed in the education sector in various job settings or working environments and in various job responsibilities. Apart from health educator as well as training positions in schools, colleges, universities and other institutions, you can work as a health advisor in various consulting firms, social organizations and international organizations.

Administration or Management Positions
With the fast-paced change taking place in the whole health care sector and its related disciplines qualified professionals with intuitive management or administrative skills have a great variety of options in making a brighter career in public health. A considerable variety of career prospects of Master degree in public health is available in administrative or management positions in the health care domain. Some of the important job positions in this sphere include care administrator in health care facilities, health program evaluator and planning specialist in government health department, health services research analyst in universities, health policy advisor and analyst in federal government, health supervisory positions in corporate or business houses, etc.

Job Positions in Community Practice
An inclination toward serving the society and social causes combining with a master degree in public health can open up a lifetime of great career growth in the sector of community practice.  There is a wide array of career prospects of Master degree in public health which offers a better variety of job positions compared to other categories of career options in public health. Some of the well known job responsibilities in this domain include health scientist in centers for prevention of diseases, health assessment specialist in government departments, health specialist positions in crisis centers and social welfare organizations, health service specialist in voluntary organizations, intoxication centers or centers for aged people, etc.

Research Positions
For an aspirant who has achieved a considerable academic excellence in the master degree curriculum in public health, research positions in the public health sector can be the best career option in regard to a true value addition in the individual career as well as social well being. Career prospects of Master degree in public health include research job in public health research agencies, governmental agencies, academic institutions, genetic engineer jobs, environmental research career, etc.

Though all the career options and job positions could not be mentioned within the short space of this discussion, at least the above mentioned career prospects of Master degree in public health would serve to have a better idea regarding the professional scopes of exposure in the public health sector.

How to choose a good Master’s Degree Program in Public health?
The specific areas of concern in regard to choosing a good Master’s degree program in public health in USA include continuous learning environment, real-life practical exposure in training, various case discussion sessions to optimize specialized learning, projects involving development of analytical and observational power, a thorough career focus and a national recognition and reputation of the program.

Career Prospects of a Master’s Degree Program in Public Health in USA
The main title areas where an aspirant of a Master’s Degree Program in public health can find a well focused professional career include education, administration or management, policy making, community practice and research. Each of these categories offers multiple job opportunities in public health, below a shortlist of those jobs are mentioned.

Education Sector

• Public Health Advisor or Instructor in Colleges and Universities
• Consumer Advocacy
• Public Health Advisor in state legislative committees
• Public Health Advisor in International Organizations
• Public Health Advisor in community, state and public health agencies

Administration or Management

• Public Health Advisor or Instructor in hospitals and clinics
• Public Health Advisor in program evaluation and planning
• Public Health Evaluator in Insurance Companies
• Public Health Advisor in pharmaceutical and consulting firms

Policy and Decision Making

• Regulatory Bodies
• Advocacy Groups
• Government agencies
• Industry and Corporations
• Professional Associations and consulting firms

Community Practice

• Rehabilitation Centers
• Relief Agencies
• Health services delivery organizations
• Substance abuse centers and agencies
• Voluntary Organizations
• International Missions

A shortlist of top recommended institutions offering Master’s Degree in Public Health in USA
The best five universities and institutions offering Master’s degree in public health in USA are Harvard University, Washington University (Saint Louis), John Hopkins University(Bloomberg School of Public Health), Colorado School of Public health and University of Michigan.

Though the above mentioned guidelines in regard to a public health career and Master’s degree in public health in USA leaves a lot of room for further discussion, at least it can provide the basic required knowledge in regard to education and career prospect of Master’s degree in public health.