the advantages and disadvantages of both inferential analysis and qualitative analysis
Running head: NURSING RESEARCH 1
Nursing Research
Lilisbet Alonso
Florida National University
Prof: Claudia Davis PhD, RN-BC
May 28, 2020
NURSING RESEARCH 2
Nursing research
Obesity and Weight Management Programs
Introduction to the Problem
The problem under investigation in this research is the issue of obesity and weight
management. This topic was selected because it the issues is affecting many people today around
the world and most significantly in the United States. Thousands of people worldwide are dying
from obesity and overweight related illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure among
many others (Obesity & weight control: Health risks, weight loss & bariatric surgery, n.d.).
Therefore, it has a huge impact on the healthcare system since it has increased the problems that
healthcare professionals and facilities are facing. Hospitals are now congested mainly due to diet
related illnesses, obesity being at the top of the list, which causes short staffing due to the
increasing patients numbers relative to providers’ numbers. The providers, especially nurses, may
then suffer from burnout and thus affecting the quality of care that they provide. Several weight
management programs have then been created in order to tackle the serious problem of obesity.
Therefore, conducting a proper research on obesity and weight management programs is very
crucial since it will help in providing in-depth understanding of the whole issue and thus useful in
developing and implementing ways that can curb the problem by proper implementation of these
programs. This will improve the conditions of healthcare facilities and eventually the quality of
care provided.
The Problem
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The problem is obesity and weight management programs. Obesity is a medical condition
that occurs when an individual has excess body fat or weight that might have some significant
effect on his or her health (Hu, 2008). On the other hand, weight management is the process of
embracing long-term lifestyle modification to keep a healthy body weight on depending on the
age, gender, and height of an individual. They include methods such as eating heathy food and
increasing the levels of physical activity. Weight management programs are then the initiatives
that are created in controlling the weight of individuals in order to control such conditions as
obesity. Managing one’s weight through these programs is very important part of their health
because they avoid being overweight and obese to reduce the risks of medical conditions such as
heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. The intake of diet considered unhealthy,
lack of physical exercise and practicing unhealthy lifestyles such as too much intake of alcohol,
smoking may lead to increase in weight, and thus a person is considered overweight. This is when
the body contains too much body fat above the required amount. Obesity then occurs after being
overweight when the calorie intake of a person goes higher than the amount of energy that is burnt
off every day. This obesity issue is then being mitigated in many countries through the weight
management programs. The programs are categorized into three many groups that include, clinical,
non-clinical, and do-it-yourself programs (The National Academies Press, n.d.).
Significance of the problem to Nursing
Obesity has become a pandemic in the United States and many healthcare professionals
including nurses have considered being the most pressing issues of health currently. It has become
the top of the priorities in the US since about two-thirds of adults are either obese or overweight.
Since nurses have the most important role in health care, they are most affected by this epidemic
and are also in the forefront of managing the problem because they responsible for implementing
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the programs in the facilities and among their patients. Nurses are affected by obesity in that it
increases the number of patient they attend that might wear them out, as they are required to
provide care to many patient beyond their ability. This then affects the quality of care that they
provide and may eventually result in poor patient outcomes. Moreover, obesity may complicate
the basic nursing interventions to the affected patients such as skin care, resuscitation and
assessment measures, intravenous access, altered drug absorption, and respiratory challenges.
Therefore, these professionals should take action in becoming more informed concerning obesity
and to put themselves in a position as the educators and role models to their patient and their
families as well as the community (Rowen, 2009). Besides, nurses play a significant role in
ensuring the success of the weight management programs since they can effectively implement
them and educate their patients concerning these programs in order to manage their weight and
avoid health complications.
Purpose of the research
The purpose of this research is to identify the health risks and effects of overweight and
obesity in people, and the essential role of obesity and weight management programs. For example,
individuals who are overweight or obese are at an increased risk of developing serious illnesses.
Besides, it may lead to many chronic conditions. The conditions are such as hypertension, type 2
diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, or high levels of triglycerides, cholesterol (The health
effects of overweight and obesity, 2020). It also causes diseases such as gallbladder disease, mental
illnesses such as anxiety, and depression. There are also breathing problems and sleep apnea,
including body pain and physical functioning difficulties.
There are essential programs such as do-it-yourself, nonclinical, and clinical programs. The
programs. The programs have a variety of interventions, which include the treatment intensity,
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cost, and the degree of the involvement (Programs for and approaches to treating obesity, n.d.).
The do it yourself programs are individually formulated. Hence, they involve varying
interventions. The category involves any form of effort, which an individual does, to loose weight
by herself or himself. For example, an individual may decide to loose weight by decreasing the
amounts of calorie intake. In the case of the nonclinical programs, they are often franchised
commercially. They are often developed by a company, and often involve guidance and
instructional materials, which are typically prepared in consultation with the health care providers.
Besides, such programs are often managed by licensed or qualified health care providers
(Programs for and approaches to treating obesity, n.d.). In the case of the clinical programs, they
involve programs which hare provided by a licensed professional. The professional may or be or
may not be part of a system of a commercial franchise. Hence, the services are provided by an
individual professional.
Research questions
The research question is essential in enquiring about overweight and obesity management
programs. The research question will enhance efficient groundwork for the entire research process;
hence, it requires good research questions to prevent the research from suffering from errors. The
research questions are such as:
Is obesity a serious problem?
What are some of the factors, which cause or expose one to obesity?
Is obesity harmful to an individual’s health?
What are some of the economic consequences of obesity and overweight in
society?
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What are some of the steps to be taken to fight obesity?
What is the importance of obesity and overweight management programs?
What are some of the interventions employed by management programs for
overweight and obesity?
The questions will help in providing a focus on the entire research process. They also
decide on what direction the research takes. Moreover, they enhance the identification of
resources, such as other scholarly studies, as reference materials.
Master’s Essentials that aligned with your topic
Some of the master’s essentials, which aligned with my topic: obesity and weight
management programs are such as quality improvement and safety, clinical prevention, and
population health for improving health. Therefore, continuous quality improvement in the
management of the area of overweight and obesity in the healthcare organization is essential (A
guide to baccalaureate education for nursing, 2015). For instance, the skills and knowledge
concerning the management of overweight and obesity, enhance quality care. Hence, improve
safety among individuals. Moreover, quality improvement through evidence-based practice, in
areas concerning the management of obesity and overweight is essential for the welfare of the
people.
In the case of clinical prevention and population health for improving health, it focuses on
the prevention and treatment of illnesses, such as chronic diseases, communicable diseases,
including the health disparity and inequity (A guide to baccalaureate education for nursing, 2015).
Most chronic illnesses are often caused by obesity and overweight. Hence, implementation of
clinical prevention and population health activities is important in ensuring the safety of the people.
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References
Programs for and approaches to treating obesity | Weighing the options: Criteria for evaluating
weight-management programs | The National Academies Press. (n.d.). The National
Academies Press. https://www.nap.edu/read/4756/chapter/5#65
Obesity & weight control: Health risks, weight loss & bariatric surgery. (n.d.). Cleveland
Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11209-weight-control-and-obesity
Rowen, L. (2009). Overview and summary: Obesity on the rise: What can nurses do?. OJIN: The
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(1).
Hu, F. (2008). Obesity epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
A guide to a baccalaureate education for nursing. (2015, July 27). Ameritech College of
Healthcare. https://www.ameritech.edu/blog/a-guide-to-the-essentials-of-baccalaureate-
education-for-nursing/
The health effects of overweight and obesity. (2020, April 11). Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html
