Obesity at its Worst
According to statistics from 2012, twenty states have an obesity rate of 30% or higher, and around 69% of all Americans are either overweight or obese (CDC, 2015). That means almost 7 out of 10 Americans have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25! Obesity-related disease processes include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and multiple types of cancer, which are all some of the leading causes of preventable death (CDC, 2015). The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion (CD, 2015). The medical costs for people who are obese, compared to those with a BMI less than 25, were $1,429 higher (CDC, 2015). This disease can be very expensive and painful for the patients who suffer them, and their families who suffer alongside them.
Pathophysiology
According to the CDC, “Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height is described as overweight or obese,” (CDC, 2012). 30% to 40% of the causes of obesity can be attributed to genetics and 60% to 70% can be attributed to the environment (Dudek, 2010). The 300 genes that are linked to obesity (Dudek, 2010) are not the sole cause of obesity, but both together make a deadly combination of increasing the chance of multiple morbidities. Obesity increases the risk of many diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, sleep apnea, colon cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, osteoarthritis, gallstones, endometrial cancer, depression, gout, dementia, etc. (Galletta, 2014). Assessment Body Mass Index (BMI) is the measure used to determine whether an individual is at a weight that is considered healthy. A normal, healthy individual has a BMI within the range of 18.5 to 24.9. An overweight individual has a BMI from 25 to 29.9, and an obese individual has a BMI greater than or equal to 30. Nursing Diagnoses. The first nursing diagnosis to help treat obesity is “Imbalanced Nutrition: More Than Body Requirements” which is related to food intake that exceeds body needs, psychosocial factors, or socioeconomic status. This diagnosis can be evidenced by a BMI over 30, visible skinfolds, abnormal eating patterns, poor diet and exercise, etc. The second nursing diagnosis to help treat obesity is “Deficient Knowledge” which can be related to misinterpretation of information, lack of interest, or inaccurate …show more content…
For one, the nurse must determine level of knowledge the patient has on nutrition and what patient believes is the most urgent need. This is necessary to know so that additional information can be provided to the patient in question. When patient’s views are listened to, trust starts to form. Secondly, the nurse must determine the patient’s optimal exercise heart rate, and show patient to demonstrate the proper technique to self-monitor pulse. This promotes safety towards the patient. Thirdly, the nurse must encourage the patient to be involved in social activities that are not centered on food. This provides the opportunity for enjoying pleasure and relaxation without feeling tempted to eat. Lastly, the nurse must emphasize the necessity of continued follow-up care and counseling. When weight is lost, many changes in a body’s metabolism occur, interfering with further loss by creating a plateau as the body activates a survival mechanism. This requires a new plan and a lot of support to continue the weight
According to statistics from 2012, twenty states have an obesity rate of 30% or higher, and around 69% of all Americans are either overweight or obese (CDC, 2015). That means almost 7 out of 10 Americans have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25! Obesity-related disease processes include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and multiple types of cancer, which are all some of the leading causes of preventable death (CDC, 2015). The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion (CD, 2015). The medical costs for people who are obese, compared to those with a BMI less than 25, were $1,429 higher (CDC, 2015). This disease can be very expensive and painful for the patients who suffer them, and their families who suffer alongside them.
Pathophysiology
According to the CDC, “Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height is described as overweight or obese,” (CDC, 2012). 30% to 40% of the causes of obesity can be attributed to genetics and 60% to 70% can be attributed to the environment (Dudek, 2010). The 300 genes that are linked to obesity (Dudek, 2010) are not the sole cause of obesity, but both together make a deadly combination of increasing the chance of multiple morbidities. Obesity increases the risk of many diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, sleep apnea, colon cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, osteoarthritis, gallstones, endometrial cancer, depression, gout, dementia, etc. (Galletta, 2014). Assessment Body Mass Index (BMI) is the measure used to determine whether an individual is at a weight that is considered healthy. A normal, healthy individual has a BMI within the range of 18.5 to 24.9. An overweight individual has a BMI from 25 to 29.9, and an obese individual has a BMI greater than or equal to 30. Nursing Diagnoses. The first nursing diagnosis to help treat obesity is “Imbalanced Nutrition: More Than Body Requirements” which is related to food intake that exceeds body needs, psychosocial factors, or socioeconomic status. This diagnosis can be evidenced by a BMI over 30, visible skinfolds, abnormal eating patterns, poor diet and exercise, etc. The second nursing diagnosis to help treat obesity is “Deficient Knowledge” which can be related to misinterpretation of information, lack of interest, or inaccurate …show more content…
For one, the nurse must determine level of knowledge the patient has on nutrition and what patient believes is the most urgent need. This is necessary to know so that additional information can be provided to the patient in question. When patient’s views are listened to, trust starts to form. Secondly, the nurse must determine the patient’s optimal exercise heart rate, and show patient to demonstrate the proper technique to self-monitor pulse. This promotes safety towards the patient. Thirdly, the nurse must encourage the patient to be involved in social activities that are not centered on food. This provides the opportunity for enjoying pleasure and relaxation without feeling tempted to eat. Lastly, the nurse must emphasize the necessity of continued follow-up care and counseling. When weight is lost, many changes in a body’s metabolism occur, interfering with further loss by creating a plateau as the body activates a survival mechanism. This requires a new plan and a lot of support to continue the weight