Health Promotion for Obesity

Obesity is a major healthcare burden in the present generation in all the developed nation in the world and USA is not an exception. The disorder is characterized by increased weight gain of individuals above the safe level that makes individuals prone to various kinds of chronic ailments. Read more about the interventions and health promotion strategies that can be developed to prevent it.

Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION FOR OBESITY
HEALTH PROMOTION FOR OBESITY
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Introduction:
Obesity is the healthcare issue, which had proved to be a major healthcare burden in the
present generation in all the developed nation in the world and USA is not an exception. The
prevalence of obesity is found to be 39.8% and the health issue had affected for about 93.3
million of US adults in the nation. Obesity is mainly characterized by increased weight gain of
individuals above the safe level that makes individuals prone to various kinds of the chronic
ailments (Enright et al., 2016). Basal metabolic index can be explained as the weight to height
ratio of the individuals and the value can provide us with the health status of individual. When
the basal metabolic index of an individual is found to be between 25 to 30, the individuals are
seen to be overweight and when the same is above 30, the individual is said to be obese.
Huge number of complications remains associated with obesity. Studies have linked
obesity with various kinds of chronic disorders like cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and even
osteoarthritis. Apart from that, the disorder also gives rise to gastroesophagal complexes, chronic
lower back pain, sleep disorders, respiratory issues, specific types of cancer and many others.
Psychological problems also remain intricately associated with the disorders that are seen to
include social stigmatization and even depression (Giles et al., 2016). Therefore, it is important
for the healthcare professionals to help people develop awareness about the disorder and
undertake interventions that help them to prevent the development of the disorder.
Two main factors are responsible for giving rise to chances of development of obesity.
Sedentary lifestyles with absence of physical activities in regular lifestyle are one important
factor. This prevents burning of excess calories in the body and helps in maintaining weight.
Another factor is the consumption of the calorie-genic unhealthy food. This results in direct

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increase in calorie content of the body without providing adequate nutrition required by the
body. Therefore, the interventions and the health promotion strategies that need to be developed
should target these two healthcare habits appropriately so that the prevalence can be reduced in
the nation (Hollands et al., 2016).
One important concept that the healthcare professionals need to cover is the
consideration of multicultural and diversity components while developing health-promotion
initiatives. Different initiatives should cover social analysis and development of cultural
awareness about the population cohort among which the health promotion initiatives need to be
administered. Different people from different cultures have their own literacy levels, cultural
preferences, traditions and inhibitions. Therefore, professionals need to be aware of them so that
they can ensure culturally competent interventions that align with the expectations of people with
different cultures (Davis et al., 2015). Researchers are of the opinion that about 47.0% of the
Hispanics and 46.85 of the non-Hispanics blacks are seen to have the highest prevalence of the
age-adjusted obesity. On the other hand, the prevalence of obesity in the non-Hispanic whites is
about 37.9% whereas non-Hispanic Asians are about 12.7%. Hence, nurses need to be aware of
the cultural traditions and preferences of all while developing health promotion initiatives to
ensure best outcome and alignment of the population with the suggested interventions.

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Goals and objectives:
Goal 1: Increase of health literacy levels as well as awareness among the community
members for providing encouragement to the participants for modifying their health habits
and behaviors like ensuring development of good habits and lifestyle changes.
Objective 1: Within March 2019, enough health education sessions would be conducted
in community halls for teaching participants about the causes and complications that related to
obesity. 70% of the community members would be well aware about how their behaviors
contribute to obese conditions and the ways they can adapt to prevent occurrences of obesity.
Survey data will be conducted to measure the outputs about health literacy development.
Objective 2: Distribution of the pamphlets, flyers and brochures that would help them to
gain knowledge about the specific foods they should take and those they should avoid along with
the physical activities and the time duration that should be undertaken. Within the month of
February 2019, a survey would be conducted to understand how the education materials had
been useful to the participants in developing their awareness.
Goal 2: Advocate to the government to develop policies and legislation for regulating and
controlling inappropriate advertisements that influence unhealthy behaviors encouraging
obesity.
Objective 1: the healthcare professionals would be conducting a social and statistical
analysis of the people affected by obesity in the cohorts and sending the reports to government so
that they can understand how inappropriate advertisements on television and social media can
result in poor lifestyle choices leading to obesity. This would be done within November 2018.
This will help them to develop good healthcare policies to prevent obesity.

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Objective 2: the healthcare promoters would be advocating about how the youths of the
nation is being influenced by inappropriate advertisements on media and develop legislations and
laws for banning such advertisements, posing strict penalties for those who break the rules. This
would be done within December 2018.
Goal 3: Rallying the government for developing policies that would discourage fast food
selling and make organic food cheaper in the communities
Objective 1: Collecting data about the consumption level of fast food and organic food
by the community members so that the prevalence of the selling and availability of fast foods and
organic foods can be made known to the government. This would be done within 22nd December
2018.
Objective 2: government need to take strict actions against brands who are selling calorie
dense fast foods, pass legislations to prevent their selling or increase their price so that less
people afford them and make organic food available at cheaper rate. This would be done by
February, 2019.
Health Behavior Intervention
Health behavior theories can often guide healthcare professionals to develop the
principles on which the health promotion strategies would be based. One of the important health
behavior theories that need to be covered is the direct modeling theory. This theory is because
individuals observe others in their social network and then engage in the particular behaviors and
tend to copy or adapt to the behaviors. Often some of the advertisements that are given on social
media and televisions and radios and lifestyles of the people lead in the neighborhood can
influence the behaviors of others. Hence, all should be educated about proper lifestyles that

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reduce the risk of obesity (Kaplan & Miller, 2017). Another health behavior therapy that can be
also followed in the health belief model. This model is a psychological model that attempts to
explain and predict health behaviors. This is mainly achieved by focusing on the attitudes and
beliefs of the affected person and modifying them to develop positive expectations by taking up
recommended actions. The goals and objectives were set with the principles of these two health
behavior models.
The first intervention would include educating patient about risky behaviors that lead to
occurrence of obesity. Once they develop awareness about the cause and factors that lead to
obesity and understand proper lifestyle changes that can reduce the chances of obesity, they
would become careful. Therefore, health education classes and pamphlets distribution would be
developed for making people develop their health care knowledge and literacy. The second
intervention includes developing policies and legislations by the government for preventing
advertisements, blogs and articles on television, radio and social media that promote unhealthy
behaviors. Often people, mainly children, teenagers and youth are highly influenced by
information shared on this medium and they can undertake such unhealthy lifestyle practices.
Hence, such policy development would prevent promotion of such resources on media and
prevent the population from being influenced. This would help to change their healthcare habits.
The third intervention would be advocating to the government to prevent the sale of calorie-
dense unhealthy fast foods and promote organic food consumptions that are nutrient dense.
Usually present generation tendencies show people to opt for fast foods, as they are cheaper and
easier to have for both low socio-economic class of people and for those who remain busy in
their lives (Hollands et al., 2016). These would be prevented if government ensures policy
development to control such habits of people successfully.

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References:
Davis, R., Campbell, R., Hildon, Z., Hobbs, L., & Michie, S. (2015). Theories of behavior and
behavior change across the social and behavioral sciences: a scoping review. Health
psychology review, 9(3), 323-344.https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2014.941722
Enright, G., Gyani, A., Raadsma, S., Allman-Farinelli, M., Rissel, C., Innes-Hughes, C., ... &
Redfern, J. (2016). Evaluating factors influencing the delivery and outcomes of an
incentive-based behavior change strategy targeting child obesity: protocol for a
qualitative process and impact evaluation. BMJ Open, 6(12), e012536.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012536
Giles, E. L., Sniehotta, F. F., McColl, E., & Adams, J. (2016). Acceptability of financial
incentives for health behavior changes to public health policymakers: A qualitative study.
BMC Public Health, 16(1), 989. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3646-0
Hollands, G. J., French, D. P., Griffin, S. J., Prevost, A. T., Sutton, S., King, S., & Marteau, T.
M. (2016). The impact of communicating genetic risks of disease on risk-reducing health
behavior: a systematic review with meta-analysis. BMJ, 352, i1102.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i1102
Hughes, S. A., & Berry, T. R. (2012). Significance of Diversity and multicultural perspective
within public health. In The evolving significance of race: Living, learning, and teaching
(pp. 123-125). New York: Peter Lang.

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Kaplan, M., & Miller, A. T. (2017). Multiple perspectives before beginning an intervention.
In Scholarship of multicultural teaching and learning (pp. 23-27). San Francisco, CA:
Jossey-Bass.

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Appendix:
Part One
As we continue to develop a better understanding of concepts in public health we
realize that nursing is considered to be an essential component of public health. In the
course of this career, one gets to work with many outstanding nurses who positively
contribute much to public health practice. Cultural competency, described as
organizational actions and policies that allow effective service delivery to culturally
diverse population (Heilman, Amthor, & Missias, 2010). A balanced health system is
essential in disease prevention, early detection, and quality health delivery. The joint
effort of society creates a conducive environment that inhabits healthy citizens. There is a
need to design an environment where individuals are focusing in the field of public
health, learn in the ethnically diverse environment to know how to handle a variety of
concerns in the community. Cultural competency models were developed to include
cultural changes and the difference that exist among, between and within cultures.
Diversity or multiculturalism gives individuals the opportunity to identify and
develop new skills and talents. Diversity and multiculturalism form an integral part of
today’s community for instance; if only 2% of students in a nursing class are categorized
as African- American, the Caucasian students who form the majority will not get to know
an African American colleague. People get to learn cultural diversity by getting to know
individuals from other racial and ethnic backgrounds better (Hughes, & Berry, 2012).
Through diversity and multiculturalism, other individuals get to know several
information like; their strengths, life history, and what makes them different when
compared to the rest.

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Diversity and multiculturalism define the restraints of healing opportunity for
patients, by enriching their lives all public health goals of eliminating disparities needs a
diverse group of health professionals (Heilman, Amthor, & Missias, 2010). Public health
workforce provides the much-needed service of safeguarding the community and
individuals from diseases and encourages healthy living. Physicians, nurses and other
health professionals have little resemblance to the population they serve, and this leaves
most Americans feeling ignored from the countries health system. The nation's health
professionals have not succeeded to keep up with the ever-changing demographics in
healthcare delivery because of inconsistencies in access and lack of health insurance.
Diversity and multicultural perspectives is a sign of appreciation and respect for the
differences and similarities in every environment. This includes varied approaches to
daily activities, perspectives, and proficiencies to the served population.
Before beginning an intervention in the health services industry relied upon by
various decision-makers and the public in general, multiple perspectives need to be
considered because of these forms the source of information on how great health system
meet the challenges faced by the citizens. As per Kaplan,& Miller, (2007), the goal of health
professionals includes; providing information that will improve the health of citizens.
Combining theories, knowledge, and methods from varied disciplines move beyond basic
and applied research to other health professionals in many academic disciplines
including; psychology, sociology, and medicine.
Health providers spread across the globe have different ways of seeing and
treating clients due to a difference in profession, background, and specialty, this variance
makes them pay more attention to particular signs and this influences how they approach

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a patient's ailment. Although diverse perspectives to patient care are essential, if not
appropriately managed, misunderstandings and bias decisions may get in the way of care
provision. According to Kaplan,& Miller, (2007) within the same specialty, providers have
varied perspectives approaches due to reasons mentioned earlier, for instance; female
nurses tend to engage in community and preventive services when compared to their
male counterparts.
Goals and Objectives Reflection
Part Two
Now that obesity has become a health concern for people from all races, gender,
and communities, set goals and objective must be applicable in diverse and multicultural
population to help reduce the substantial financial burden and health resource wastage.
Below are goals and objectives from unit 4 assignment.
Goal 1: Develop awareness and motivate specific health literacy levels to encourage
participants to modify their behavior and ensure the development of good food and eating
habits.
Objective 1: By February 28th, 2019, Distribution of pamphlets that align with each
community member’s literacy level to create awareness about the causes and complications
relating to obesity.
Objective 2: By March 2019, conduct frequent health education sessions in community
halls aimed at undertaking set strategies. This prevents weight gain and ensures physical exercise
regimes. Collected data will help about 70% of the community members change their diet plan
and undertake physical exercises as daily lifestyle habits while increasing the number of hours
spent on leisure and physical activities.

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Goal 2: Involve the government in policy and legislation created to regulate inappropriate
advertisements that negatively influence unhealthy behaviors and encourage obesity.
Objective 1: By November 2018, conduct social analysis and develop reports to be sent
to the government to help identify how inappropriate advertisements on television and social
media can result in poor lifestyle choices leading to obesity.
Objective 2: Advocate and develop policy based on possible legislation to ban
inappropriate advertisements and pose strict penalties for breaking such rules. The policy would
be developed and published by December 2018.
Goal 3: Rally the Government to develop policies that discourage fast food and encourage
organic food.
Objective 1: Collect data on how many people use calorie-dense foods in the
communities and send this information to the government. This would help the government
obtain an idea about the resources needed to introduce organic food into the market. This should
be achieved by 22nd December 2018.
Objective 2: By 22nd December 2018 advocate concerning the harm caused by such
disorders to the government and make people aware of these harms. Develop policy for
communities to only sell organic foods and not fast foods making them aware of the penalties.
Out of the160 million Americans suffering from obesity, diversity and multiculturalism
must be applied to include everyone. Hence the changes to the set goals and objectives as
indicated below.
Goals and Objectives Reflection
The goals and objectives in unit 4 only focused on the need to eradicate obesity among the
Americans with the focus on food and calorie intake to the people. Either they require some

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adjustments to be inclusive in cultural diversity. This will enable health professionals, and
different patients understand the need for equity while promoting cultural diversity.
Goal 1: Develop awareness and motivate specific health literacy levels to encourage
participants to modify their behavior and ensure the development of cultural diversity.
Objective 1: Distribution of pamphlets that are in line with health professionals each
community member group and the level of literacy to create awareness and complications about
diversity and multiculturalism in public health practices.
Objective 2: many health conditions should be conducted at the community level to help
minority groups and health providers undertake the set strategies. This will ensure cultural
competence and eliminate health disparities.
Cultural diversity awareness creates an understanding of different ethnicity and racial
backgrounds and the need for change to appreciate the uniqueness of each person
Goal 2: Involve the government in policy and legislation created to regulate inappropriate
advertisements that negatively influence unhealthy behaviors and encourage racism and
ethnicity.
Objective 1: Conduct social analysis and develop reports that need to be sent to the
government to make them identify how inappropriate advertisements on television and social
media can result in racially based standings.
Objective 2: The concerns to the government advocates on how this affects the youths
of the nation and develop a policy based on possible legislation to ban such advertisements based
ethnic and racial posts and pose strict penalties for breaking such rules. The policy would be
developed and published by December 2018.

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Reason: Daily, citizens get exposed to advertisements that are discriminative The government
will spearhead this initiative by limiting screen time, monitoring media activities while
encouraging health professionals to learn cultural competence and accommodate cultural
diversity in public health sectors.
Goal 3: Rally the Government to develop policies that discourage disparities in public
health and encourage cultural diversity.
Objective 1: Collect data about how many people have faced bias in treatment this would
help the government obtain an idea about the resources needed to introduce cultural competence
in health institutions. This should be achieved by 22nd December 2018.
Objective 2: By 22nd December 2018 advocates on the need for diversity in health
practice and research. Develop a policy for different communities to help them understand what
health diversity is.
In conclusion, from the above explanation, it is clear the set goals and objectives
apply to the diverse or multicultural population. Effecting change is not an easy task;
with proper strategy the process can be less stressful. Once the need for change is
identified, selecting the affected population would be the first step in implementation.
Second is assessing the risks involved in implementing set goals and objectives?
Resistance during implementation is reasonable because the individual like doing things
the way they are used to, for this reason, the financial perspective of implementing the
goals should be taken into consideration (Davis, et al., 2015). The implementation process
will reevaluate all processes to ensure the programs are consistent with specific needs.

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