Introduction
Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat. Deposits form in various locations, but the fat surrounding vital organs is the most harmful. A variety of variables influence the onset of such a condition, but the most common cause is an excess of the body’s calorie requirements. Overweight and obesity have significant consequences for a person’s health, well-being, and quality of life. This issue has worsened in recent years, yet new therapeutic approaches can help patients recover.
Epidemiologic Triangle
The epidemiologic triangle, sometimes known as the trio, is the classic paradigm for how an infectious illness emerges. It consists of three components: the pathogen, the vulnerable host, and the external environment that brings the host and pathogen together. In this concept, the external environment affects the pathogen, the host, and the pathogen’s transmission route from source to host.
Several pathogens have been identified in cases of adult obesity (Salam et al., 2020). These might include excessive eating and an inactive lifestyle. Obese people often eat erratically, in excessive quantities, and often overeat. Frequent eating of fast food and other high-calorie items raises the risk of obesity. The primary agent is the food, and the host is the organism.
Various factors contribute to the body’s vulnerability. These include age-related factors in obesity, such as a decline in metabolic activity and a drop in physical activity levels. Sex factors can also contribute to vulnerability. It is widely recognized that women are obese about twice as likely as men to be obese (FOX TV Digital Team, 2022). This is related to intense hormonal swings in the female body, as well as a variety of physiological situations such as pregnancy, menopause, and breastfeeding.
The explanation of obesity might include endocrine illnesses, which result in altered nutritional behavior and decreased production of fat-splitting hormones, as well as the use of hormone treatment for therapeutic purposes. If obesity or a disease similar to it is recognized in close relatives, hereditary predisposition becomes a risk factor. It is sometimes caused by mutations in genes that control how much energy is stored as fat. The problem is that people today choose to eat fast food, and sedentary jobs inhibit physical activity.
Prevention
Obesity prevention and treatment require a multifaceted approach that includes a healthy diet, regular exercise, and lifestyle modifications. Obesity is a serious health concern that can lead to a variety of chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. A balanced diet is a foundational concept in obesity prevention regimens.
The community should eat a mix of vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products, proteins such as fish, poultry, and lentils, and healthy fats such as avocados and nuts (Salam et al., 2020). It is also vital to keep track of portion sizes to avoid overeating, even if the meal is nutritious. A steady meal schedule prevents overeating and provides the body with the energy it needs throughout the day.
Regular exercise is also an essential part of combating obesity. Aerobic activity, weight training, and stretching should all be done daily. It is crucial to remember that stress can lead to weight gain. Thus, it is critical to discover appropriate stress management strategies. Lack of sleep may have a detrimental impact on metabolism and hunger; therefore, getting enough sleep is essential. As a result, preventing and treating obesity requires a multifaceted approach that includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and lifestyle changes.
Community Data
The problem of obesity is quite prevalent in the community. Obesity prevalence has been relatively steady at 36.2% over the past two years (America’s Health Rankings, n.d.). Pettis County’s adult obesity rate is 28.2%, while the state average is 29.6% (America’s Health Rankings, n.d.).
Currently, 36.4% of individuals in the state have a BMI of 30 or higher, according to height and weight statistics (America’s Health Rankings, n.d.). 11.7 percent of adults have been notified by a healthcare practitioner that they have diabetes (excluding prediabetes and gestational diabetes) (America’s Health Rankings, n.d.). The number of years of potential life lost before the age of 75 is 11,082 per 100,000 people (1-year estimate) (America’s Health Rankings, n.d.). These figures are averages for the United States and should be improved.
Local Agency
A healthcare agency operating in the selected area is Pettis County Health Center, located in Sedalia, MO. Overall, the facility offers various services at sliding-scale fees to improve the community’s health and awareness (About Pettis County Health Center, n.d.). For example, women can access nutrition, weight management, and exercise educational programs, and such services are also available for adult males. Clients of this center can also consult a nutritionist for recommendations on weight loss and obesity prevention. These are the ways that the healthcare agency contributes to solving the medical issue.
Description of Articles
The first publication relevant to the public health nurse is by Leme et al. The goal of this systematic review is to assess the effectiveness of two types of obesity prevention programs, both of which include behavior modification components, on weight measurements (Leme et al., 2020). Research on energy balance focuses on lowering calories from high-energy sources while boosting physical activity (PA).
In contrast, general risk factors for obesity and eating disorders focus on eliminating disordered eating behaviors to build healthy interactions between food and eating. The analysis included 35 papers: 20 on energy balance and 15 on general risk factors for obesity and eating disorders (Leme et al., 2020). The authors stated that more study is needed to determine how a shared risk factor strategy might aid in the management of both obesity and eating disorders.
A second paper written by Salam et al. is also relevant to the issue. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of lifestyle modification therapies in the prevention and treatment of childhood and adult obesity. Up to February 2020, the authors did a thorough literature search in multiple databases and gray literature, with no constraints on publication date, language, or status (Salam et al., 2020). The authors also considered randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental research from high-income countries (HIC) and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
The following item is worth noting: the paper by Magriplis et al. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between increased sugar intake and the risk of becoming overweight or obese, while controlling for other foods. The Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS) included 1165 children and adolescents aged 2-18 years (66.8% male), including 781 children aged 2-11 and 384 adolescents aged 12-18 (Magriplis et al., 2021). The authors found that a high intake of added sugar increased the risk of overweight/obesity in both children and adults, regardless of other dietary or macronutrient intake.
Another paper that may be beneficial for public health nurses is that by Duncanson et al. The authors of this article found that obesity therapies with a dietary component had a moderate, long-term impact on reducing overall energy intake and increasing consumption of specific food categories (Duncanson et al., 2021). The report also called to determine dietary modifications as the primary outcome.
Finally, the work of Kim and Seo is the fifth item that can make a significant impact on obesity. According to the article’s authors, there is growing evidence that smartphone healthcare applications can increase physical activity and promote healthy eating among young adults. Kim and Seo (2020) conducted a systematic literature review and analyzed five relevant studies. They confirmed the significant effects of using such mobile programs, which is essential for nurses to know, as they can raise patients’ awareness and recommend smartphone applications.
Conclusion
Thus, obesity is a condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation and increased body weight. A variety of factors cause this, the most notable being an imbalance between calorie intake and physical activity. Obesity shortens life expectancy by increasing the likelihood of severe comorbidities. These include type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis and associated illnesses, reproductive dysfunction, cholelithiasis, and osteochondrosis. That is why this issue must be tackled at the neighborhood level, as it will help enhance the state’s health.
References
About Pettis County Health Center. (n.d.). Pettis County Health Center.
America’s Health Rankings. (n.d.). Explore obesity in Missouri.
Duncanson, K., Shrewsbury, V., Burrows, T., Chai, L. K., Ashton, L., Taylor, R., Gow, M., Ho, M., Ells, L., Stewart, L., Garnett, S., Jensen, M. E., Nowicka, P., Littlewood, R., Demaio, A., Coyle, D. H., Walker, J. L. & Collins, C. E. (2021). Impact of weight management nutrition interventions on dietary outcomes in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity: a systematic review with meta‐analysis. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 34(1), 147-177.
FOX TV Digital Team. (2022). Women gaining nearly twice as much weight as men, study finds. FOX 29.
Kim, H. N., & Seo, K. (2020). Smartphone-based health program for improving physical activity and tackling obesity for young adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), 15-30.
Leme, A. C. B., Haines, J., Tang, L., Dunker, K. L., Philippi, S. T., Fisberg, M., Ferrari, G. L. & Fisberg, R. M. (2020). Impact of strategies for preventing obesity and risk factors for eating disorders among adolescents: A systematic review. Nutrients, 12(10), 3134.
Magriplis, E., Michas, G., Petridi, E., Chrousos, G. P., Roma, E., Benetou, V., Cholopoulos, N., Micha, R. & Zampelas, A. (2021). Dietary sugar intake and its association with obesity in children and adolescents. Children, 8(8), 676.
Salam, R. A., Padhani, Z. A., Das, J. K., Shaikh, A. Y., Hoodbhoy, Z., Jeelani, S. M., Lassim Z. S. & Bhutta, Z. A. (2020). Effects of lifestyle modification interventions to prevent and manage child and adolescent obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 12(8), 2208.