Discussion 7.1 Critical Thinking about The Challenges Facing Obesity

1. Provide a follow up response to the classmate post below regarding the challenges facing
Obesity and management to care as a Nurse Practitioner.

“Obesity is a common disease of Americans. With that being said healthcare providers are facing emotional reactions from patient receiving the diagnosis of obesity. It has come to light that obesity has a strong link on a psychological basis. Patient are dealing with a bias from some providers that the obesity is from their lifestyle choices. According to Maclnnis, et al. (2020) obesity is considered a disease and that obese patient have an impaired metabolic pathway that does not signal when a patient is full. Therefore, obese patient may have trouble with self-control in their eating habits. As providers we need to include psychological counseling to go along with diet and exercise. This is only one aspect that providers will face when care for patients with obesity. Providers also need to be highly aware of patients socioeconomic status being a major factor in the cause for obesity (Maclnnis, et al., 2020). One of the socioeconomic problems that could be contributing to obesity such as insufficient funds to purchase health foods. Therefore, as providers we need to look at patient and their situations as a whole and work together to improve their health. Once again, I feel that counseling, along with diet and exercise should be a part of a patient with obesity plan of care. I would collaborate with a psychologist, dietitian, and personal trainer to assist in treating patients with obesity. In collaborating with these other specialties to ensure weight loss to hopefully prevent co-morbidities associated with obesity. According to Welcome (2019), co-morbidities associated with obesity are hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and sleep apnea. Preventing co-morbidities is a nice thought but it is more likely that providers are treating obese patients that already have these co-morbidities. It is said that 85% of patients with obesity have type 2 diabetes mellitus. Effectively reducing a patient with obesity weight can help the patient better control blood sugar levels by reducing insulin resistance (Welcome, 2019). Patients with obesity that have the co-morbidity of sleep apnea can possibly reverse sleep apnea by losing enough weight. This can be achieved because if a patient with obesity loses enough weight the pressure on the upper airways will be relieved increasing the patients lung volume (Welcome, 2019). Hypertension is a serious disease and can cause other co-morbidities. It is known that patients with obesity that also have the co-morbidity of hypertension seriously benefits from losing weight because it can significantly drop the patients blood pressure (Welcome, 2019). Treating patients with obesity can be difficult for providers. Patients and providers can achieve goals in treatment plans to lose weight  with collaborations and consideration about finances and mental health, along with diet and exercise.”

Reference

MacInnis, C. C., Alberga, A. S., Nutter, S., Ellard, J. H., & Russell-Mayhew, S. (2020). Regarding obesity as a disease is associated with lower weight bias among physicians: A cross-sectional survey study. Stigma and Health, 5(1), 114122. https://doi-org.proxy.library.maryville.edu/10.1037/sah0000180.supp (Links to an external site.)

Welcome, A. (2019). Obesity Medicine Association. Retrieved from https://obesitymedicine.org/what-is-morbid-obesity/