Obesity at different ages is a community health issue that bothers millions of people around the whole world. In the United States, obesity prevention is one of the main goals established by local hospitals, healthcare facilities, and social organizations. Nowadays, the American government spends approximately $145 billion each year to combat obesity at different stages (Trivedi, Liu, Probst, Merchant, Jhones, & Martin, 2015).
However, these costs are not stable, and the presence of this problem proves the necessity to increase or at least re-evaluate these costs. Obesity is not only an abnormal condition associated with excessive fat (Aye, Aung, Fried, Lee, & Gunasekaran, 2018). It is a possible cause of multiple chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular problems (Trivedi et al., 2015). More than 30% of Americans are obese, and about 15% of the global population are reported to suffer from obesity today (Lobstein et al., 2015). Weight reduction is discussed through several dietary methods, education, and behavioral interventions that are appropriate for different ages.
Advanced Practice Roles and Management Strategies
This paper is a plan of how to change the way the community should treat obesity and improve people’s health through the required number of interventions. At the community level, change has to be properly organized regarding the roles of all potential stakeholders and available management strategies. In this plan, it is expected to involve advanced practice nurses like clinical nurse specialists who aim at improving health care quality through communication and discussion of patients’ behaviors, attitudes, and abilities.
The main management strategies are the increased awareness of weight excess, the promotion of healthy eating, and the attention to physical activities (Aye et al., 2018). Program managers and policymakers have to be informed about the expected outcomes and necessary services to inform people and offer new opportunities. New fitness facilities have to be created as a part of management strategies to promote obesity prevention and determine community needs.
Key Community and Social Resources
Media remains one of the main resources to prevent obesity and inform the population about visible and invisible threats of excessive weight. State and local programs can be used to disseminate public health recommendations and recognize guarantees. The identification and assessment of body mass index (BMI) is the step that cannot be ignored in the plan because it is a beginning point of all interventions and activities, the reason to participate in interventions, and the outcome that has to be achieved (Lobstein et al., 2015).
It may have positive and negative effects on the participants. On the one hand, it can inspire people to recognize the problem and search for a solution. On the other hand, it may prove that no significant changes occur even after following all the rules. However, frustration should not be the final option. Additional resources like booklets or forums about healthy eating, regular physical activities, or an overall promotion of health during meetings can be used.
Changes in Community-Related Services
Community-related services can be enhanced in several ways to support the idea of obesity prevention at different ages. For example, it is possible to promote the creation of new play yards for children with several implements that are directed to increase physical activities. They include special ladders, beams, crossbars, and rope roads. Adults should have access to training grounds and safe areas for running. Community-based services should be improved by informing people about the places they can visit to improve their health. One of the options is to visit a special restaurant with healthy food. Medical centers should also offer their free services regularly to communicate with the population and explain why obesity is a problem that has to be solved at the earliest possible period.
Strategic Plan
To decrease the prevalence of obesity among the population of different ages, a list of goals has to be developed and followed:
- By the end of the first month of the program, it is expected to communicate with 500 citizens of the chosen community and provide them with the recent statistical data about obesity and its impact on human health;
- By the end of the second month of the interventions, the population of the chosen area has to be asked about the causes and outcomes of obesity, and it is expected to receive 97% of correct answers;
- Once per week, it is necessary to organize free meetings for about 100 people per time and develop discussions about recent obesity challenges, complications, and achievements;
- In three months, five new play yards have to be built for children, and five training courts should be offered to adults;
- Two healthy food restaurants have to work in the community by the end of the first three months of the program;
- In one year, the number of obese people has to be reduced by 65%.
Conclusion
In general, the reduction of obesity among citizens of different ages is a complex task that requires several interventions and changes. Though background knowledge plays an important role in obesity prevention, it is not enough to inform the population about the threats of this condition only. It is necessary to offer new opportunities, create appropriate conditions, and investigate the possible demands and needs of ordinary people.
Such a goal as the development of new playgrounds is characterized by the main challenge to receive enough governmental support. Free meetings, courses, and consultations should be discussed with the representatives of healthcare facilities. However, as soon as community members start participating in activities and support the idea of healthy living progress, the number of chances to reduce obesity problems can be increased.
References
Aye, Z. N., Aung, T., Fried, N. J., Lee, C., & Gunasekaran, D. (2018). New insight and methodology of long lasting successful reduction in overweight and obesity in USA. Archives of General Internal Medicine, 2(1), 16-19.
Lobstein, T., Jackson-Leach, R., Moodie, M. L., Hall, K. D., Gortmaker, S. L., Swinburn, B. A., … McPherson, K. (2015). Child and adult obesity: Part of a bigger picture. Lancet, 385(9986), 2510-2520.
Trivedi, T., Liu, J., Probst, J., Merchant, A., Jhones, S., & Martin, A. B. (2015). Obesity and obesity-related behaviors among rural and urban adults in the USA. Rural Remote Health, 15(4). Web.