Nursing Theories And Obesity

It cannot be denied that obesity is a growing problem in today’s modern society. Individuals with obesity face many complications in their lives, such as heart complications, diabetes, osteoarthritis and of course, early mortality. However, the astonishing thing is that obesity is a preventable disease. According to (the Department of Health, 2005, p.6), 39% of Irish adults are overweight, and 18% are classified as obese. The main factors in causing obesity are poor diet, lack of activity and family genetics. Poor diet and lack of activity can easily be prevented, thus combatting obesity and improving the family genetics for future generations. The report (Obesity, a growing problem?, 2011, p. 2) illustrates that the causes of obesity are characterised as a natural reaction to an un-natural situation. The nurse has an important role in obesity prevention. Nurses, with their advanced care and medical knowledge can make a significant difference to the lives of those who are obese. This topic was chosen because the epidemic of obesity is growing increasingly more serious for a disease that can be prevented.

Adler, N. E., & Stewart, J. (2009). Reducing Obesity: Motivating Action While Not Blaming the Victim. Milbank Quarterly, 87(1), 49-70. doi:10.1111/j.1468- 0009.2009.00547.x

Obesity is a growing problem and concern in American households today. However it cannot be narrowed down to one main problem. The most prominent underlying issues are psychological and environmental. These issues in turn create deteriorating health and economic problems degrading one’s self-esteem.

This topic of obesity has been a rising issue for many years. There are many different reasons and predictions as to why the number for this disease is rising in America. Recent epidemiologic studies of diet and health outcomes including obesity have changed the focus to the overall diet quality and dietary pattern instead of single nutrients, such as dietary fat (Hu et al, 2000; Fung et al, 2001a, 2001b). The process starts with the lack of physical exercise and the food that people eat. As Americans, we need to picture more healthier foods to eat, have more physical activity to help food digest easier and faster. According to Campbell “to date, interventions have focused on improving the more amenable determinants of obesity: physical inactivity

In this assignment, I will critically appraise obesity and reflect on the implications this has in paediatric nursing. I will consider government response to this issue and critically appraise the Obesity Plan, as well as discussing the recommendations from the bold and brave document prior to the plan. I will be reflecting on how this issue impacts upon children’s nurses now and in the future taking into consideration the impacts of policy implementation.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), "more than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese." This fact effectively underscores the seriousness of the issue at hand. Further, it means that obesity is affecting millions of people in the U.S. alone (either directly or indirectly). As McKnight (2006) points out, one of the leading causes of death in America is physical inactivity. Physical inactivity coupled with other factors has been branded a leading cause of obesity. Every day, people die from obesity related diseases including but not limited to hypertension and heart disease as others have their social lives greatly inhibited by the condition. In the recent past, debate has been rife on whether obesity should be branded a disease or a factor contributing to ill health. Whether classified as a disease or a factor contributing to ill health, the epidemic remains one of the main preventable causes of death not only in the U.S. but also across the world. In the modern day, both comfort and convenience have come to be regarded top human priories. In pursuance of these two "ideals", healthy living has seemingly taken a backseat. A sedentary lifestyle coupled with poor eating habits is slowly making America a fat nation and as a result, we are slowly gravitating towards poor health. It is this trend that is making obesity synonymous with disease. Obesity is however not a disease but one of the many factors that contribute to ill health.

Heintze, C., Sonntag, U., Brinck, A., Huppertz, M., Niewöhner, J., Wiesner, J., & Braun, V. (2012). A qualitative study on patients' and physicians' visions for the future management of overweight or obesity. Family Practice, 29(1), 103-109. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmr051

Nowadays, obesity is a common medical condition, especially in Western countries and North America. There has been a rapid increase in obesity in America in recent decades. According to The World Health Organization, there were more than 700 million people who were obese in 2008, and the rate of obesity has almost doubled in 30 years, between 1980 and 2010. Although obesity is not a dangerous disease, it is a major factor in other serious diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attack. There are many possible solutions which could lead to a decrease in the obesity rate, such as diet plans, boot-camps, weight loss drinks, hypnotherapy or even surgery. However, one of the best ways to prevent obesity is to practice a healthy lifestyle

Obesity is a disorder where a person has stored so much body fat that it will have a harmful effect on their health and it leads to weight-related health complications such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, certain cancers, diabetes, and liver disease. Obesity in America is getting worse. More than 70 percent of Americans are either obese or overweight, and obesity rates have increased for all population groups in the United States over the last several decades. According to the article "Understanding the American Obesity Epidemic" from the American Heart Association website, nearly 78 million adults and 13 million children deal with the health and emotional effects of obesity every day

The Health and Social Care Information Centre [HSCIC] (2016) report that obesity prevalence in the UK has increased by 11% between 1996 and 2016, with 58% of women and 65% of men being overweight or obese. The World Health Organisation (2016) define obesity as the disproportionate build-up of fat that could harm an individual’s health. Obesity is measured using Body Mass Index (BMI). An individual’s BMI is measured using an individual’s weight and height, by dividing the weight in kilograms by the square of the height in metres. If an individual has a BMI higher than 30, they are classified as obese (NHS, 2016).

Over the past few decades in the United States the disease obesity has become a national epidemic. In the Encyclopedia of Nursing it states the following “The latest projections of the World Health Organization (2010) indicate that globally in 2005, 1.6 billion adults were overweight and 400 million were obese, and that by 2015, 2.3 billion will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese” (1). This was from 2010 the current obesity rate in the United States among adults is roughly 36.5% according to the Center for Disease and Control Prevention. The CDC is the nation’s health protection agency which protects against disease. With this epidemic continuing to grow and no

Twenty- four obese subjects participated in an intervention that lasted three months. These subjects were compared with twenty-two obese age and gender matched control subjects.

Obesity is defined by a person’s body mass index (BMI), which compares that person’s height to their weight without considering factors like their build or the amount of muscle they have. It also happens to be a growing problem in the United States with over one-third of the adult population being obese according to the CDC. Not only are these people suffering from carrying around excess body weight but being obese also puts them at a higher risk for potential health problems. Obesity is not only preventable but it is something that can be change, it is not a chronic illness. It does not have to define someone’s life if they can make some basic changes to the way they live day to day, which is not as easy as it sounds for most people. If people begin to live healthier lifestyles and focus on their diet and exercise we can decrease the obesity rates in the United States and become a healthier nation over all. We already have plenty of different programs around the United States that promote healthy eating and exercise for people to educate themselves, now we just need to start putting them to the best use we can. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how diet and exercise can prevent obesity in the United States.

Obesity has caused great dilemma in America. It was known as an adult disease. “Over two thirds of adults are over weight or obese.”(Obesity, Jerry R Ballenttne) these numbers are increasing rapidly. Obesity is not just a appearance

Obesity has become an epidemic in our over indulgent North American society. In addition to body image issues, obesity causes significant health issues. Society often views obesity to be a disease when it is actually a sign of a disorder, genetic or environmental. The percentage of our population that is growing overweight is increasing every year, and can become a very serious issue if it is not dealt with urgently. Problems relating to self-confidence, self-consciousness, and isolation can occur as a result.