Morbid Obesity – Community Action Plan

Running head: MORBID OBESITY – COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
MORBID OBESITY – COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1
MORBID OBESITY – COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
Definition of assigned chronic disease condition:
Morbid obesity can be defined as the serious health condition that can interfere with the
different physical functions like breathing as well as walking. Individuals who are found be
morbidly obese remain at the greater risk for illness like that of diabetes, high blood pressure ,
sleep apnea, gastroesophagal reflux like GERD, gallstones, osteoarthritis, cancer as well as heart
disorders.
Morbid obesity can be diagnosed by the determination of Body Mass index. BMI can be
defined as the ratio of the individual’s height to the weight. Normal BMI of the individuals is
mainly seen to range from 20 to 25. When the individuals are seen to have BMI over 25 to 30,
the individuals would be overweight and when beyond 30, the individual would be considered
obese (Leslie et al. 2015). When the individuals are above BMI 35, they are considered to be
suffering from morbid obesity. Morbid obesity is considered a medical condition where patients
are seen to have excess amount of body fat and a body mass index of above 35.
Obesity not only acts as the risk factors for other chronic disorder but also affects the
mental and emotional health and well-being as well. Obese individuals are seen to suffer from
depression, anxiety as well as social exclusion. Suicides are also seen to be positively correlated
with such disorder. Therefore, obesity has become the sole factor of the occurrences of many
chronic disorders along with poor mental health conditions and self-harm tendencies. Often
people suffering from co-morbid disorders are seen to live poor quality life and their sufferings
increase day by day (Lubans et al. 2016). Hence, obesity has become one of the most important
health concerns in the nation as it has become one of the greatest contributors to diseases burden
in the nation. Therefore, preventative strategies need to be adopted by every community to

2
MORBID OBESITY – COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
ensure that the community members are safe from the risks of the disorder and lead better quality
lives.
Background information and need for the project:
With the increasing disease burden of obesity in the nation of Australia, it had become a
health concern and needs to be handled with urgency. Obesity is increasing the disease burden in
the nation by various ways. People who are seen to suffer from obesity are often seen to become
resistant to insulin action, which is important for maintenance of the sugar level in the blood.
Therefore, they are seen to have high blood sugar and this increases the risk for developing
Type-2 diabetes. Moreover, obesity is also seen to increase the blood pressure of affected
individuals. Hypertension thereby occurs in the patients that in turn leads to development of
severe situations where patients get affected by strokes and damages their heart and kidney
(Bolton et al. 2017). Another important chronic disorder that obesity often results in affected
individuals is osteoarthritis of the weight bearing joints. Additional weights are seen to be placed
on the joints especially on the knees and the hips that cause rapid wearing and tearing of the
joints along with pain and inflammation. Decreased mobility is also seen to be associated as it
also contributes to the disk proems, and pain.
Excessive weight gain in the tongue and neck can result in blocking of the air passages
for people who sleep on their backs. This makes them lose their sleep and make them suffer from
sleep apnea and respiratory issues. Gastroesophagal reflux disease is also seen to occur with
hiatel hernia and heartburn (Maatuog et al. 2015). Excess gaining of the weight causes
overloading and weakening of the valve present at the top of the stomach allowing stomach acid
to ensure the esophagus. This situation is called the gastroesophagal reflux and heartburn and

3
MORBID OBESITY – COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
acid indigestion is seen to occur. Depression is also seen to occur as people who suffer who are
seen to be obese need to deal with constant as well as depressing emotional challenges. Failed
diets, disapproval from families and friends, remarks from strangers are seen to be some of the
contributing factors for developing depression (Lobstein et al. 2015). Infertility is also seen to
occur as obesity disrupts the normal actions and functioning of the male and female hormones
resulting in difficulty or inability to conceive. Urinary stress incontinence also results. When
abdomen is seen to become large and heavy, it causes relaxation of the pelvic muscles along with
compounding of the effects of the childbirth. This causes weakening of the valves of the urinary
bladder causing leakage of urine when coughed sneezed or laughed.
This above mentioned health issues can reflect the need of the project that would help in
preventing the occurrence of the disorder. Researchers are of the opinion that illnesses associated
with obesity have significant impact on the Australian economy. Reports state that direct
financial costs to the healthcare system include higher healthcare cost along with higher demands
of the healthcare services. Such healthcare services are seen to include general practitioners,
allied healthcare professionals, specialists, pharmaceuticals, administrations and other healthcare
direct costs (Lacy et al. 2015). The different types of the indirect costs are seen to include
productivity losses, carer costs, welfare payments and forgone taxations revenues. The different
other costs associated with the disease burden are healthcare aids, equipment transports,
accommodations, respites and other governmental programs. Huge amount of expenditure of
healthcare resources on treatments and surgeries are also high. Therefore, in order to reduce the
diseases burden and develop the GDP and quality of life of people in the nation, the project is
important.