OBESITY

Obesity is defined by a disproportionate increase in body weight, which has been linked
to poor mental health outcomes and cardiovascular illnesses or death. Physical inactivity, genetic
traits, simple carbohydrates in foods, and psychological factors are the leading causes of obesity
in individuals. Overweight and obesity, in particular, are caused by an imbalance between the
number of calories consumed and the amount of energy expended, with the former being greater.
As a result, obesity increases the risk of various health problems, such as heart disease and high
blood pressure, which have a long-term impact on people’s well-being. Obesity is more common
in middle-aged adults than in adolescents aged 20 to 39, owing to increased physical activity in
older people. Preventive measures against obesity and overweight revolve around behavioral
theory approaches and dietary changes that avoid simple carbohydrates to regulate the body’s
calorie intake.
In general, high rates of obesity and overweight in communities have a negative impact
on public health outcomes such as stigma, depression, and avoidance of medical care; however,
medical promotions against the illnesses can include nutrition education, developing a positive
diet culture, and food research initiatives (Wilfley et al., 2018). Obesity and overweight
prevalence in most people has a significant impact on the general attitude of community
members, as the conditions are attributed to a lack of commitment to healthy living. In this case,
the proliferation of high-energy foods in society leads to obesity in individuals because they
consume available diets rather than nourishing them. Because of a lack of complete dietary
foods, societies with low social status have a high prevalence of obesity in children and middle-
aged adults. Statistically, 33% of pupils are obese or overweight in primary school.

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Consequently, in societies where obese children are socially isolated, obesity stigma is
common. Close family and friends do not only stigmatize obese children but are also ignored by
the media and health professionals. Obesity and overweight conditions affect societal health
outcomes over time (Brown et al., 2019). Finally, the high prevalence of overweight or obesity
conditions in the community becomes a burden on public health departments, particularly due to
victim stigma, which impedes treatment procedures. Further, obesity increases the prevalence of
emotional illnesses such as major depressive disorders in most societies. Obesity is a type of
health condition that continues to be a source of concern in modern society. It is linked to other
disorders, all of which have a negative impact on one’s health.
Furthermore, pregnant women are at a high risk of having high blood sugar levels,
especially if they eat poorly. Obesity in pregnant women, in this case, poses the greatest risk of
developing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus because fat tissue cells are overburdened with nutrient
processing for the body. In addition, lack of physical activity due to obesity increases the risk of
GDM in pregnant women because glycemic control is affected by inactivity in balancing sugar
levels. As a result, insulin sensitivity in the body’s muscle cells decreases (Russell & Russell,
2019). However, if the patient does not have immediate access to nutritional foods, they will be
given information on contacting nurses who will assist them in ordering such foods. In addition,
weekly sessions will be held directly with the patient to discuss the essence and methods of
physical exercises. In this case, the nurses will assist the patient in identifying simple exercises
that can be done at home regularly. In addition, stress management and relaxation techniques
will be taught to the patient. Finally, a nurse will educate the patient on self-monitoring of weight
at home to ensure weight control.

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Individuals with overweight conditions are more likely to develop mental health issues
due to the treatment they receive in the community. Members of society frequently form
disparate opinions about obese people who are unconcerned about their well-being based on
GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators report (Skelton, 2017). As a result of these false perceptions,
individuals socially isolate overweight children in their communities. Obesity is a public health
concern because it causes emotional disorders in the majority of victims, affecting the
community’s overall well-being. The link between depression and obesity, public health has the
responsibility to reduce the prevalence of overweight conditions among most children (Ash et
al., 2017). Individuals with obesity or overweight conditions are occasionally associated with
avoidance of medical services due to personal and societal effects that change behavior. Obese
children have a negative attitude toward seeking healthcare because of the stigma and poor
quality of services.
Often, most obese patients believe that seeing a doctor is unnecessary because their
condition is not a major health concern. Obese children’s health deteriorates due to the false
perception they have developed, and the majority of them suffer from coronary illnesses and
high blood pressure. At the community level, the prevalence of obesity continues to rise as
interventions to combat the condition are either absent or ignored by community members (Ash
et al., 2017). Similarly, physicians develop negative perceptions when providing medical care to
obese patients because they are assumed to be more bothersome than other children. In this case,
physicians avoid dealing with obesity conditions because they choose individuals free of such
illnesses to be comfortable in their working environment (Mazloomy-Mahmoodabad et al.,
2017). Obese children’s public health outcomes deteriorate over time as they are limited to
medical treatment and intervention to improve their condition.

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In light of the high prevalence of obesity and overweight conditions in most modern
societies worldwide, public health intervention is required to combat the disease. Children are
especially at risk of becoming obese because modern home environments require sitting, and
movement is limited due to the widespread use of automobiles (Steele et al., 2017). As a result,
physical activity is limited, and individuals may gain weight in a short period due to energy
dissipation. Self-monitoring, stimulus control, and goal setting are all behavioral treatment
theory approaches. Weight regain is common, but regular follow-up with an interventionist,
including at least monthly counseling, can help to reduce it. Under behavioral treatment
delivered by phone, internet, and smartphone, patients are expected to lead positive healthy
lifestyles that can be spread to larger populations. Therefore, the mission of public health
departments in various communities is to control chronic illnesses through mass education on
healthy lifestyles. In this case, nutrition education should be provided to community members to
teach them the importance of including various foods in their diets. Given that nutrient
deficiencies contribute to obesity, educating the community will promote positive health
outcomes by increasing children’s awareness of their weight and physical inactivity.
Moreover, under the Bismarck healthcare model, collaboration between the education
sector and community public health departments can result in positive health outcomes. Payment
for physical activities and therapies among children can stimulate positive health outcomes in the
long run because weight is closely monitored (Bell et al., 2018). Furthermore, the impact of
community-based public health interventions, such as the formation of fitness groups and
collaboration with healthcare facilities, will aid in the fight against obesity. According to the
Bismarck model, efforts to establish checkups for obese children at every health facility within
communities can advance the intervention toward promoting medical outcomes (Skelton, 2017).

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Public nursing departments can fund obesity prevention programs in the future as part of a long-
term strategy to reduce obesity among the majority of children in society. Sessions on
maintaining physical health can significantly increase the likelihood of obese children seeking
medication to control their weight and exercising caution when eating.
Significantly, many children remain obese, owing to parental attitudes toward diet and
exercise, exacerbated by current work and home conditions that limit movement. In this case,
obesity has a negative impact on public health, which aims to achieve positive health outcomes
for individuals and societies. Obesity is associated with the stigmatization of those who have the
condition and depression over time. Obesity leads to the development of the major depressive
disorder, which leads to a failure to seek medical care. Biased treatment from family members,
friends, and health professionals increases the prevalence of obesity, which has a negative impact
on medical outcomes over time. Finally, it is the responsibility of community public health
officials to establish programs that assist obese children in seeking medical attention and
monitoring their weight.
Obesity in children and adolescents can be minimized through behavioral theory weight
management strategies, such as nutritional therapy as an effective medical intervention for
preventing heart and respiratory-related infections. According to the American Diabetes
Association, obese patients must be the primary decision-maker to achieve positive medical
outcomes. Significantly, increasing nutritional awareness among individuals in high-prevalence
communities is part of cultivating positive health outcomes for the illness (Mazloomy-
Mahmoodabad et al., 2017). Outlining weight management goals and personalizing the
macronutrient composition of foods reduces hypertension, a risk factor for obesity-related
illnesses. The minimum amount of fats and cholesterol must be maintained for various food

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preferences to meet the corresponding weight requirements (Bell et al., 2018). Metabolism can
be maintained through selective diets containing low amounts of fats and lipid profiles while
preserving the body’s renal functions. Lowering fat content also creates ideal conditions for the
body to benefit from the nutritional value of the foods consumed. Concentrating on vegetarian
diets helps limit the intake of animal saturated fatty acids, leading to cardiovascular disease.
Also, eating low-fat foods helps keep glycemic levels stable, preventing insulin resistance in the
human body.
In conclusion, physical inactivity, genetic traits, simple carbohydrates in foods, and
psychological factors are the leading causes of obesity in individuals. Based on behavioral
theory, the selection of foods necessitates nutritional therapy, which is one of the health
intervention strategies applicable to the prevention of obesity. The minimum amount of fats and
cholesterol must be maintained to meet the corresponding weight requirements for various food
preferences. When the patient does not have immediate access to nutritional foods, they will be
given information on contacting nurses who will assist them in ordering such foods. In addition,
as part of behavioral theory application, weekly sessions will be held directly with the patient to
discuss the essence and methods of carrying out physical exercises. Finally, developing eating
habits and establishing nutritional therapy entails recommending appropriate diets for
individuals.

OBESITY 8

References

Ash, T., Agaronov, A., Aftosmes-Tobio, A. and Davison, K.K., (2017). Family-based childhood
obesity prevention interventions: a systematic review and quantitative content
analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14(1), pp.1-
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Bell, L.K., Perry, R.A. and Prichard, I., (2018). Exploring grandparents’ roles in young children’s
lifestyle behaviors and the prevention of childhood obesity: An Australian
perspective. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 50(5), pp.516-521.
Brown, T., Moore, T.H., Hooper, L., Gao, Y., Sayegh, A., Ijaz, S., Elwenspoek, M., Foxen, S.C.,
Magee, L., O’Malley, C. and Waters, E., (2019). Interventions for preventing obesity in
children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (7).
Mazloomy-Mahmoodabad, S.S., Navabi, Z.S., Ahmadi, A. and Askarishahi, M., (2017). The
effect of educational intervention on weight loss in adolescents with overweight and obesity:
Application of the theory of planned behavior. ARYA atherosclerosis, 13(4), p.176.
Russell, C.G. and Russell, A., (2019). A biopsychosocial approach to processes and pathways in
the development of overweight and obesity in childhood: Insights from developmental
theory and research. Obesity Reviews, 20(5), pp.725-749.
Skelton, J.A., (2017). Management of childhood obesity in the primary care setting. UpToDate
[Internet].
Wilfley, D.E., Hayes, J.F., Balantekin, K.N., Van Buren, D.J. and Epstein, L.H., (2018).
Behavioral interventions for obesity in children and adults: Evidence base, novel
approaches, and translation into practice. American Psychologist, 73(8), p.981.