Obesity and Clinical Practice - Essay Example

Obesity and Clinical Practice Introduction Over the past decades, the prevalence of childhood obesity has reached an epidemic level. The obesity and overweight in childhood can have noteworthy effect on psychological and psychical health. The word overweight and obese is referred to children whose body weight is considered to pose a medical risk and regarded as unhealthy. The pivotal role played towards the escalating prevalence of obesity is believed to be cultural environment, lifestyle preferences and environmental factors. In general terms, the upsurge rate of fat and caloric intake are assumed to be primary issues of obesity and overweight. The prime purpose of the report is to present vivid explanation and provide pertinent scientific evidence on the clinical practice issue. Thesis statement “The childhood obesity has become one of the epidemic clinical issues with long-lasting psychological effects, whichis required to be addressed with actionable strategies and specific alteration in clinical practice.” Analysis and Critical Thinking Obesity is considered to be as chief contributor towards the prevalence of global burden of disability and chronic diseases. Obesity is believed to be in serious condition with stern psychological and social magnitudesthat is primarily affecting all socioeconomic groups and ages. the prime causes of rapid upsurge of childhood obesity is nutrient poor foods, increased energy dense foods with high level of saturated and sugar fats. Furthermore, these causes are combined with lack of physical activity. The high rate of obesity and overweight can be major factor for non-communicable and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, the childhood obesity is significantly associated with high risk of social isolation, bullying, teasing and lessening in quality lifestyle. This occurrence of diseases not only causes long-term mobility, but also premature mortality. The long-lasting effect of childhood obesity is required to be addressed through effective alterations in clinical practices and actionable strategies. Key terms: Obesity, clinical, body mass index and childhood. Clinical perspective on childhood obesity The rapid rise of childhood obesity is considered as one of the most dominant health complications in the developed countries. The Preventive Service task Force of United States has recommended clinicians to screen children that are aged over 6 years. The recommendations were based on providing these children intensive and comprehensive behavioral intervention for healthier improvement on weight. The clinical outcomes for obesity are psychological, metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes. The understanding of family on importance of physical activity and proper nutrition is beneficial towards the developmental of children. The active parents are believed to have children that are active on their lifestyle and work. On the other hand, the inactive parents are most likely to have obesity and overweight children. The family eating practices are vital towards the physical growth of children (Poskitt, 2008). The time of food consumed, how it is offered and where it is eaten is critical influence the improvement of health. The increased deficiencies and risk of obesity and overweight are forms of arthritis, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it is considered that obese children that are aged between 6 to 8 years are most likely to be obese adults. This ratio is minimal for children with lower body mass index. Almost 70% of children with obesity and overweight are at higher level to have heart diseases. Moreover, the obesity is also viewed to have significant high risk factor for type 2 diabetes. This disease is also known as adult onset diabetes. Until childhood, the rate of obesity starts to rise significantly to obese adults. Additionally, the obese children have a lower level quality of life like social-wellbeing, educational, emotional, psychological and physical. Patient in specific setting Keith Martin is the specific patient that believed to be weightiest man alive. In the year 2013, Keith Martin was admitted in Homerton Hospital for weight loss surgery. The surgery was based on reduction of stomach size. This is apparently not a normal surgery. The man was believed to be weighed 70 stone. The surgeon stated that this treatment was life-changing surgery for weight loss. The Head Surgeon who was operating at Homerton Hospital stated that obese people must be influenced and informed to have gastric surgeries on National Health Services. The clinical surgery was believed to be life threatening. Apparently, the patient was discharged from the hospital after successful limited weight loss. Furthermore, Keith Martin was again readmitted to Homerton Hospital with dehydration and septic shock. Kesava Mannur, the surgeon of Keith Martin stated that like many other people, the patient used to have psychological and emotional drawbacks (Dietz, 2009). This eventually forced the patient in to more comfort zone. This type of behavior is not new. Keith Martin used to choose food for attaining comfort zone. The Bariatric surgery was successful in spite of being high risk of death. But it was very unfortunate and hapless that patient caught pneumonia, which resulted in to death. Kesava Mannur believes that when patient are assumed to hit body mass index in excess of 30, then it becomes quite difficult to lose weight. This resembles the fact that surgery for obesity may be successful, but it can eventually leads to negative impact on body health. This cause of obesity can be nullified by taking of food habits and lifestyle from childhood. Adults with high rate of obesity become difficult to lead healthier life. The global strategy on health, physical activity and diet In the year 2004, the World Health Organization developed the global approach on health, physical activity and diet to address amplified burden and prevalence of non-communicable and cardiovascular diseases. The primary cause for occurrence of these diseases is believed to be childhood obesity (Myers, 2012). The critical objective of this strategy is to promote effective action plan and policies to addresses issues on physical activity and diet, encouraging the application of preventive intervention and public health action and finally interventions at clinical level. The developed global strategy calls for addressing physical activity and diet of children and adolescents. Moreover, the World Health Organization developed effective framework and structure to support Member States towards the evaluation and monitoring of global strategy. School-based intervention setting The majority of studies based on obesity prevention are based in schools. The school-based physical activity and diet are believed to be effective enough to prevent the occurrence of childhood overweight and obesity. The combination of school-based program and community component is considered as effective preventive intervention for childhood obesity. The broader and active physical action behaviors of children and adolescents can be fostered through school environment (Allison, 2004). In past, children used to experience several physical activity programs. But over the period of time, the scholastic pressures have reduced the amount of time allocated and assigned for physical activities. According to Dwyer et al, the microenvironment is important socio-component of school (Hills, King & Byrne, 2007). Furthermore, it is applied to the balance of time that is devoted towards active pursuits and academic pursuits. The level of physical activity and sports is determined by the ethos of school. During lesson time in schools, Dwyer et al focused on introducing training session that are based on extra fitness. These training sessions were aimed to influence leisure activities and eating habits of children. Nearly half part of the school based programs involves engagement with wider community or parents, whereas the other half of the school based programs is purely based on incorporating lifestyle and healthy education. There are other healthcare program incorporated and developed to improve the physical activity and weight counseling. The Maine Overweight Youth Collaborate is one of the initiatives that is being developed for weight counseling and improvement of clinical decision support (Nonas, 2009). The prime part of these interventions is to track centiles of body mass index of overweight and obese children. An expert home visiting program named as EMPOWER is developed to visit home for babies those are at extreme high risk obese condition. Conclusion This can be concluded that escalating effective clinical response towards the prevailing problem of obesity through staff training and clinical program helps to provide fruitful support to children and adolescents for further weight gain. The childhood obesity can have substantial negative impact towards psychological and physical health conditions. The reduced physical activity and high consumption of calories are main factors involved towards current epidemic upsurge of obesity. Recommendations A focused physical examinations and review of systems should be conducted by clinicians to address obesity related issues. The management intervention strategies should be incorporated within clinical operations. This should include medication, lifestyle alterations, surgical, behavior, nutrition and physical activity attentions. Every child and youth has certain barriers against the increased financial constraints, fear of injury and time constraints. These barriers are required to identified and addressed by clinicians. There must be continuous measurement of body mass index, height and weight to determine whether the child is healthy weight, obesity, overweight or underweight (Pfaff, 2012). A system should be established for clinician and staff training. This is basically for knowledge and skills in the areas on lifestyle alterations, physical activity, nutrition and focused advice. These recommendations will benefit clinician and healthcare institutions for better and fruitful health care practices. References Allison, S. (2004). Issues in clinical nutrition. London: Sage. Dietz, W. (2009). Clinical obesity in Adults and Children. New York: Springer. Hills, A., King, N., & Byrne, N. (2007). Children, Obesity and Exercise. London: Routledge. Myers, J. (2012). Manual of Clinical Problems. Stamford: Cengage Learning. Nonas, C. (2009). Managing obesity. New York: Oxford University Press. Pfaff, D. (2012). Clinical Medicine. London: Cambridge University Press. Poskitt, E. (2008). Management of Childhood Obesity. New Jersey: Pearson. Read More