Childhood Obesity: Physical Therapy's Role

This assignment examines the crucial role of physical therapy in both preventing and treating childhood obesity. It delves into the potential of physical therapy interventions to address this growing health concern, emphasizing their importance in promoting healthy lifestyle choices and improving overall well-being for children. Additionally, the assignment analyzes the leadership implications within the profession, highlighting the need for physical therapists to take a proactive stance in advocating for policies and practices that support childhood obesity prevention and management.

Health Condition
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Declaration
I declare that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for
another unit, degree or diploma at any university or other institute of tertiary education. Information
derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and
list of references is given. I warrant that any disks and/or computer files submitted as part of this
assignment have been checked for viruses and reported clean.
Student signature:
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
2. Define and describe the health condition ....................................................................................3
3. Prevalence/Incidence of country in Australia..............................................................................3
4. Prevalence/Incidence of obesity in United States........................................................................3
5. Treatment of obesity....................................................................................................................4
6. Describing the role of two health professionals in providing the treatments .............................4
7. Assessing the impact of obesity on community ..........................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................7
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1. INTRODUCTION
In the present era, there are several people who are suffering from chronic diseases like
heart attacks, diabetes, obesity etc. All such diseases place negative impact on the health aspect
of the individual. The present report is based on the issue of obesity which is highly suffered by
the people of both Australia and US. Further, report will discuss the ways through which nurses
and physical therapist can prevent the problem of obesity. Besides this, it will also shed light on
the impact which the problem of obesity places on the people of community.
2. Define and describe the health condition
Overweight and obesity refers to abnormal or excessive fat accumulation which presents
health risks (Australian institute of health and welfare [AIHW], 2016, pg.149).The most common
caused by obesity such as lack of physical activities, energy imbalances, environmental concerns
of obesity (Ali, 2012). Overweight or obesity normally starts from imbalance in sustained energy
which occurs due to excessive intake of eating and drinking pattern which exceeds energy
(AIHW, 2016). Individuals taking high calories in the fast food, less participation in the physical
activity because of heavy workloads and busy lifestyles which further leads to obesity (Ali,
2012). Moreover, obesity has some serious health risks with life-threatening medical conditions
and symptoms including high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, gallstones,
sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes (Ali, 2012).
3. Prevalence/Incidence of country in Australia.
The prevalence of obesity has been increased among Australian individuals about 56.3%
in 1995 and 62.8% between 2011 -2012(Australian Bureau of statistics, 2015). The trend of this
disease was higher among males about 70.8% than females (56.31%) in the year 2014 and
2015(Australian bureau of statistics, 2015).The Prevalence of overweight and obesity increases
with increasing age(Australian bureau of statistics, 2015). The prevalence of this disease vary
according to the living area of an individual (Australian bureau of statistics, 2015). For instance,
the rate of disease was 61.1% who lived in major cities, 69.2% who lived in inner regional areas
and 62.2% who lived in outer regions in Australia between 2014 and2015(Australian bureau of
statistics, 2015).

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4. Prevalence/Incidence of obesity in United States
The obesity rate was rising in the year 1980 to 2000 (Alver, 2016). In the year 1988, the
rate of obesity was increased from 23% to 35% in women and the rate of this disease was
increased around 36% in males (Alver, 2016). But, in the 2012 the prevalence of this condition
was still increased and the rate of obesity was around 34.9% in adults and 16.9% in young
generation (Alver, 2016).
5. Treatment of obesity
National medical association and public service groups prescribing medical treatment
such as pharmacotherapy medication (Kissane & Pratt, 2011).Pharmacotherapy has been shown
to encourage weight reduction from 2 to 10% in 1 year (Kissane &Pratt, 2011).As similar to
weight loss surgery, there are some body mass index criteria important to recommend
pharmacotherapy to overweight patients (Kissane & Pratt, 2011).The patients must have BMI
more prominent than 30kg/m or less than 27kg/m with weight related co-morbidities (Kissane &
Pratt, 2011). The same number of patients regain the weight when they are give up from the
medications (Kissane & Pratt, 2011).Also, taking everyday prescriptions is of concern for the
patients (Kissane & Pratt,2011). Particularly, in light of cost, possible side effects and potential
absence of protection scope (Kissane & Pratt, 2011). There are some common pharmacotherapies
such as sibutramine, phentermine and orlistat (Kissane & Pratt, 2011) Medical tratments requires
a long term attention from the patient (Kissane & Pratt, 2011).
6. Describing the role of two health professionals in providing the treatments
In the present era, obesity is one of the main problems from which can be found in
children and young people. It is a very serious problem which may cause of diabetes, heart
attack, high blood pressure etc. (Maher, 2016). Hence, government, nurses and physical
therapists etc. has taken several initiatives to cope up with the situation of obesity (Sack & et.al.,
2009). In this regard, nurses and physical therapists are the one who plays a vital role in the
preventive of diseases like obesity in the following manner:
Role of nurses
In order to deal with the disease of obesity nurses primarily makes focus on assessing the
current behavior of patients before giving any kind of suggestion. Thus, in this way by
understanding the behavioural aspects nurse makes plan to motivate the patient by taking the

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assistance of current examples (Maher, 2016). Besides this, nurse also encourages patient to
make focus on eating less and do regular exercises (Miller, Alpert & Cross, 2007)). Moreover,
physical activities in the form of exercise also may result into the loss of weight. Nurse also
provides assistance to the patient in doing regular exercises (Insufficient physical activity, 2016).
Further, nurse also prepares diet chart or plan for the patient by including all the nutritional food
aspect on it.
Role of physical therapists
Physical therapists is another health professional which plays an important role in the
preventing the disease of obesity. Moreover, such therapist provides guidance to the patients
through which they can do exercise in a joyful manner without any pain. Further, physical
therapists also organizes the aerobic program to burn the calories (Obesity and injury in the
National Hospital Morbidity Database, 2016). Besides this, therapists also communicates the
ways through which patients suffering from obesity can strengthen their muscles and make the
body more flexible (Kendall, 2009). Hence, physical therapists makes remarkable contribution in
the prevention of obesity by persuading patients about the safest, fastest and highly effectual
ways of practising exercise.
7. Assessing the impact of obesity on community
Obesity is one of the main diseases which place high level of impact on community. In
the present time, people give more priority to their looks and want to become slim and fit
(Lifestyle factors, 2016). Along with the problem of obesity among the people specifically
among children and young people is growing with the very high pace (Burden of overweight and
obesity, 2016). Due to this aspect, now people who are suffering from the problem of obesity
takes services from the physical therapist and nurses etc. (Australia food and nutrition, 2012). In
this way, all such services impose high level of financial cost in front of the patient facing the
problem of obese.
Besides this, issue of obese is the second highest contributor which enhances the burden
of disease (Overweight and obesity. 2016). In this way, issue of obesity places negative impact in
the people of community. Along with this, now government also organizes the campaign to
develop awareness among the people about the nutritional diets. In such campaigns, government
appoints highly experienced health professionals to provide information to the patient about the

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ways through which they can deal with the problem of obesity (Obesity and injury in Australia:
a review of the literature, 2016). Besides this, health professional also give diet chart to the
patient which in turn helps them in losing the weight to the large extent.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that now large number of people are
suffering from obesity. It is one of the serious issue which closely influence the health aspect of
the people in a negative manner. Besides this, it can be revealed from the report that lack of
physical activities and environmental concerns are the main factors due to which the problem of
obesity increases. It can be summarized from the report that in Australia and US percentage of
males are higher who suffer from the disease of obesity as compared to females. Further, it can
be inferred that physical therapists performs a significant role in reducing the level of obesity.
Moreover, therapists help in improving the cardiovascular fitness of the patient.
It can be seen in the report that such professional authority helps in improving the
flexibility, movement and muscle strength by reducing the level of pain. It also has been
articulated that strategies which are employed by the nurses to overcome the problem of obesity
are competent in nature. Moreover, nurses give guidance to the patient about diet, exercise etc.
Besides this, it can be inferred that problem of obesity closely influence the actions of the people
of community. In addition to this, now a day’s Australian government has also taken several
initiatives to develop awareness among the people about the issue of obesity and its
consequences.

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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Australian Bureau of statistics. (2015).National health survey; First results,
2014.2015(4364.0.55.001).Retrieved from http: // www. abs. gov. au/ ausstats/ abs@. nsf/
lookup/ by % 20 subject/4364.0.55.001~2014~15~Main % 20 features ~ Diabetes %20
mellitus~12.
Black, L. I. & et.al., (2015). Use of complementary health approaches among children aged 4–
17 years in the United States: National Health Interview Survey, 2007–2012. National
health statistics reports. (78). pp.1.
Kendall, E., (2009). Current attitudes and practice patterns defining the role of school-based
physical therapy in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity: implications for
leadership in the profession. 4-187.
Kissane.N., Pratt.(2011). Medical and surgical treatment of obesity. Journal of best practice of
research clinical Anesthesiology, 25 (1),11-25, Doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2011.01.001.
Miller, K. S., Alpert, T. P. & Cross, L. C., (2007). Obesity in nursing. Overweight and obesity in
nurses, advanced practice nurses and nurse educators. pp.259-264.
Sack. S. & et.al., (2009). Physical Therapists’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Practice Approaches
Regarding People Who Are Obese. (38). pp.8-813.
Maher, L. M., (2016). Care of the obese in advanced practice nursing: Communication,
assessment and treatment. Springer publications.
Online
Australia food and nutrition. 2012. pdf. Available through:
<http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10737422357>. [Accessed
on 5th October 2016].
Burden of overweight and obesity. 2016. Online. Available through:
<http://www.aihw.gov.au/overweight-and-obesity/burden-of-disease/>. [Accessed on 5th
October 2016].
Insufficient physical activity. 2016. Online. Available through: <http://www.aihw.gov.au/risk-

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factors/insufficient-physical-activity/>. [Accessed on 5th October 2016].
Lifestyle factors. 2016. Online. Available through:
<http://www.aihw.gov.au/male-health/lifestyle-factors/>. [Accessed on 5th October 2016].
Obesity and injury in Australia: a review of the literature. 2016. Online. Available through:
<http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737420420>. [Accessed on 5th October
2016].
Obesity and injury in the National Hospital Morbidity Database. 2016. Online. Available
through: <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129543229>. [Accessed on
5th October 2016].
Online. Available through: <http://www.aihw.gov.au/overweight-and-obesity/>. [Accessed on 5th
October 2016].
Overweight and obesity. 2016. Online. Available through: <http://www.aihw.gov.au/overweight-
and-obesity/>. [Accessed on 5th October 2016].