Obesity Education Plan for Older Adults

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Introduction

The given paper presents an obesity education plan targeted at adults and older adults who are overweight or obese and, therefore, are at risk of developing various diseases. The proposed project will complete in December 2018. Nowadays, the prevalence of abnormal BMI in both children and adult people can be listed among the key healthcare concerns that are widely discussed in the United States. When it comes to statistical data, the recent reports state that the share of obese people among the adult population has increased by more than twenty percent over the past few decades (An & Xiang, 2016). As the research indicates, the most significant risks exist for African-Americans (a twenty-six percent increase) and female population. The desired outcome is increasing patients awareness of obesity-related risks and ways to mitigate them.

Theoretical Foundations and Education Plan

Obesity is not usually regarded as an autonomous problem. Instead, this unhealthy condition almost always goes hand in hand to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, intestinal issues, breathing problems, joint problems, and an increased risk for injuries (An & Xiang, 2016). The population at which the proposed education plan is targeted is presented by patients who are older than eighteen and are at risk of developing obesity. The creation of an effective plan presents a difficult task because the chosen population unites people from different age and ethnical groups. More than that, patients economic consequences may differ, and this is why dieting recommendations should be designed based on this factor.

Theoretical foundations of the obesity education plan are presented by Dorothea Orems famous nursing theory. According to the key principles discussed in the self-care deficit theory, encouraging patients to be independent and conscious about their health is pivotal because the concerted efforts of healthcare providers and patients are much more effective (Jaimovich et al., 2015). Another assumption that can be used to create a comprehensive education plan refers to the necessity of information on potential health risks  the plan pays close attention to providing the target group with an opportunity to assume risks. In reference to the educational method, interventions aimed at reducing obesity and related health risks can align with the principles of outcome-based education that allow making teaching process patient-centered.

The proposed education plan is aimed at making more patients aware of health risks related to their current BMI status. Also, its goals are presented by improving their knowledge on healthy eating and the principles of healthy exercising for adults and older adults. Therefore, the plan includes three types of educational interventions.

The first goal, increasing risk awareness, can be achieved with the help of making data on weight status and health issues more available. To fulfill the goal, it is necessary to introduce free consultations for overweight and obese adult patients. Also, considering that some patients do not have an opportunity to visit our hospital on a regular basis, a special online application devoted to health risk is to be designed. The application is going to provide the information on the most significant risks based on users BMI, age, and family medical history. Pick-up materials devoted to risks associated with obesity should also be prepared and distributed among patients.

The next focus of the program is the popularization of healthy nutrition. Nutrition specialists are to offer group consultations to adult patients there the following information should be presented: the least and the most addictive products, cooking tips to reduce caloric content of food, food combining tips, and the general principles of metabolism. A significant part of the target population is presented by African Americans who often face economic challenges and are sensitive to price changes (Hill et al., 2016). Knowing that, it is important to make this information culturally sensitive and design pick-up materials that would present affordable healthy foods and more appropriate versions of popular fast food meals that can be cooked at home.

To promote healthy exercising, it is important to provide people with well-structured information and practical tips. Our patients will be offered free online lectures available on our hospitals website. These videos are to inform people about the principles of healthy exercising for younger and older adults who are overweight or obese. The information will include tips on how to define appropriate exercise intensity, the best exercises for weight loss, and recommendations helping to increase physical activity in daily life and prevent workout injuries. Tips related to disability sports will also be presented.

Costs and Barriers

The project is not associated with extreme financial risks as purchasing new equipment is not needed. Nevertheless, financial resources should be allocated to hire application developers and designers to work on the online application and handout materials. Despite these costs, the use of information technology and the creation of unique study materials are expected to fulfil the tasks and popularize the hospitals services.

Barriers to plan implementation include patients limited access to the Internet. Apart from that, some patients who have a negative experience with weight loss are likely to suppose that well-known principles do not work. To address the first challenge, it has been proposed to use various formats to present information (printed materials, data carriers with electronic documents, online resources).

Conclusion

To sum it up, the proposed education plan promotes self-care and increases patients awareness of associated risks, nutrition principles, and healthy exercising to prevent further spread of obesity in the city. The results are to be evaluated with the help of surveys. Those patients using online and offline materials will be asked to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of the program, changes related to their knowledge level, and their lifestyle changes caused by the program.

References

An, R., & Xiang, X. (2016). Age-period-cohort analyses of obesity prevalence in US adults. Public Health, 141, 163-169.

Hill, S. E., Baskett, K., Bradshaw, H. K., Prokosch, M. L., DelPriore, D. J., & Rodeheffer, C. D. (2016). Tempting foods and the affordability axiom: Food cues change beliefs about the costs of healthy eating. Appetite, 107, 274-279.

Jaimovich, S., Campos, C., Bustos, J., Campos, M. S., Lillo, V., Herrera, L. M., & Arellano, V. (2015). Effects of an intervention on line in self-care feeding behavior. Enfermería Global, 39, 84-94.

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