Theory of Interventions for Obesity Management

Running head: THEORY OF INTERVENTIONS
THEORY OF INTERVENTION
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THEORY OF INTERVENTIONS
Introduction:
The trans-theoretical model of Change is also called the stages of change model and
had been developed by Prochaska and DiClemente round about the years of late 1970s. This
theory of intervention had mainly evolved from the specific types of researches, which
examined the experiences of the smokers who quit on their own in comparisons to those who
require further treatment (Ligmann et al., 2016). This would have helped them to understand
why some people were capable of quitting on their own and why others required support.
Many of the studies came out with the opinion that individuals who were successful in
quitting smoking only when they were voluntarily ready for doing so. Therefore, this model
is often seen to focus on the decision-making procedures of the individuals and this was
thereby referred as a model of intentional change. This model is of the opinion that
individuals do not change their behaviours quickly as well as decisively (Segall, 2017). In
place, it has been found that changes in the behaviours especially concerning the habitual
behaviours occur continuously through that of the cyclical procedures. This assignment
would be mainly evaluating various aspects of the trans-theoretical model of Change
especially in tackling the burden of obesity in the nation and would thereby show how
healthcare professionals can utilise this theory of interventions for instilling successful
behaviour change motivation among individuals.
Obesity:
Obesity can be described as the complex disorders that involve excess amount of the
body fat, which actually interferes with the physiological systems of the body resulting in
many severe health complications. Such health complications are seen to include heart
disorders, high blood pressure as well as diabetes. Moreover, huge numbers of health
concerns that arise as the result of obesity are high triglycerides levels in the body, different

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THEORY OF INTERVENTIONS
types of metabolic syndromes, stroke, breathing disorders like sleep apnoea, cancers of
various kinds, disorders of the gall bladders, erectile dysfunctional as well as gynaecological
problems and many others (Friman et al., 2017). So many health conditions not only affect
the quality of living of the affected individuals but also results in huge financial flow along
with emotional and mental disorders like depression, anxiety and others. Hence, it becomes
extremely important for the people of the nation to be well aware of the causes of the disorder
and prevent them from occurring in their lives. In the present day, obesity has been termed as
the avoidable life style behaviours, which can be prevented by adoption of effective lifestyle
and modifications of health behaviours. Unhealthy diets as well as the eating habits are of the
health behaviours that contribute to obesity. Studies are of the opinion that weight gain
becomes inevitable if an individual eats more calories than that are burnt. Diets those are
higher in the calories like those of fast foods, take-away foods, and sweetened beverages
result in accumulation of calories and contributing to obesity (Davies et al., 2016). Again,
inactivity and sedentary lifestyle is another contributor that increases the chance of obesity.
When individuals remain inactivity, the calorie gained is not burned out completely resulting
in accumulation in the body and contributing to obesity (Saunders et al., 2016). Lack of
physical activities and exercises make individuals more prone to develop obesity. Hence, it
becomes important for each of the individuals to voluntarily feel motivate to change their
behaviours weighing the costs associated with the negative outcomes in comparison to the
benefit they would get by changing the health behaviours.
Each of the stages of the model analysed and its application in obesity management:
Pre-contemplation stage:
Individuals who are in this stage do not have any intentions in taking actions in the
near future and is mainly measured in the next six months. Studies are of the opinion that

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being uninformed or that of under informed about the consequences of the behaviour of an
individual may cause an individual to be in this pre-contemplation stage. Many other studies
are also of the opinion that multiple unsuccessful attempts at change undertaken by an
individual can result in demoralisation of the ability to change. In case of obesity issues, it
can be found that people having low levels of education and having low health literacy do not
remain aware of the risks associated with unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles.
Hence, it becomes important for healthcare professionals to encourage re-evaluation of the
current behaviours of unhealthy food habits and poor lifestyles and then should encourage
self-exploration but not action (Sharma, 2015). Healthcare professionals would need to
explain and personalise the risks through health education sessions in different settings.
Contemplation stage:
In this stage, people are seen to have developed intention in changing in the next six
months but are quite apprehensive and are not completely motivated to initiate the changes.
Studies have found that people in this stage remain more aware of the pros of changing but
they also consider the cons of the health behaviour changes. An interesting aspect found in
some of the studies is that the pros and cons of changing the health behaviours can result in
developing ambivalence, which can make people remain in this stage for longer periods
(Naslund et al., 2017). This phenomenon can be described as the chronic contemplation or
behavioural procrastination. In this stage, the healthcare professionals would shift from health
education sessions where they have revealed the risks of unhealthy behaviours to obesity.
Here, they would be conducting motivational interviewing sessions with the individuals; it
can be described as the counselling sessions that help people in resolving ambivalent feelings
and insecurities for finding internal motivation, which they require for changing their health
behaviours. The professionals would also encourage evaluation of the different of pros and