Background and Significance of Obesity
Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat in the subcutaneous layer and internal organs and increased body weight. The severity of the disease is determined based on the calculation of the body mass index (Chooi et al., 2019). The diagnosis is made when the patient’s body weight is significantly higher than normal. There are various reasons for the spread of obesity, among which it is necessary to highlight the imbalance of caloric intake and the level of physical activity. Some diseases, such as disorders in the work of the thyroid gland and pituitary gland, damage to the nerve cells of the hypothalamus, and Cushing’s disease, can lead to obesity. In addition, certain types of drugs can negatively affect a person’s weight.
Depending on the BMI, there are three stages of obesity. The first stage is distinguished by excess weight, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, and swelling that becomes visible externally. The second stage is characterized by significant fat deposits, which are highly visible and can interfere with daily life. The symptoms characteristic of the first degree is a decrease in working capacity and difficulty walking. In the third stage, headaches and a violation in the functioning of the cardiovascular system are added. Shortness of breath is observed in motion and at rest, and the legs begin to swell strongly in person. Such a patient needs the help of a nutritionist and a consultation with an endocrinologist. The course of the disease is quite unpleasant and difficult for the patient, and the consequences can complicate life forever.
The Rationale for the Problem
In many, especially rich countries, there is an increase and a greater variety of food, both ordinary and harmful. Even though malnutrition is only one of the causes of obesity, in most cases, it plays a significant role in the appearance of excess weight (Blüher, 2019). Thus, this problem becomes relevant and significant for a large number of people around the world. Since 1997, WHO has declared that the world is experiencing a global epidemic of obesity (Haththotuwa et al., 2020). This is a fact that should inspire society to start decisively opposing the problem. If, over such a long time, the number of people suffering from obesity has not decreased, this means that public health policies are not effective enough. Preventive measures are important for such a problem, and their successful implementation can significantly improve the situation.
Relevance to Nursing Practice
Obesity is of great importance for nursing practice since such patients need constant supervision and care. Patient education as one of the effective methods of treatment for the problem of obesity has not yet become widespread. This is a problem that, in many ways, can contribute to the fact that this disease is still spreading. Creating new, improved prevention and public health programs could increase public awareness of the underlying causes of obesity. This way, it is possible to help people avoid developing the disease and remove some individuals from the risk group. Prevention in weight management should be mandatory for nurses as it may improve their health-enhancing abilities.
References
Blüher, M. (2019). Obesity: global epidemiology and pathogenesis. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 15(5), 288-298. Web.
Chooi, Y. C., Ding, C., & Magkos, F. (2019). The epidemiology of obesity. Metabolism, 92, 6-10. Web.
Haththotuwa, R. N., Wijeyaratne, C. N., & Senarath, U. (2020). Worldwide epidemic of obesity. In Obesity and obstetrics (pp. 3-8). Elsevier. Web.