Understanding and Managing Obesity: Exploring Pathophysiology, Clinical Guidelines, and Best Practices - Free Paper

Introduction

The cases of obesity among adults and children in the United States are on the rise. Although obesity is not considered to be an ailment, it is one critical risk factor that forms the basis for common diseases in both adults and children, including hypertension, diabetes type II, cardiac ailments, and stroke, to mention a few. According to the data collected by the Nutrition Examination and National Health Survey in the year 2017 through 2018, it revealed that there is a 42.4 percent obesity prevalence rate in adults (Ellulu et al., 2014). Therefore, obesity can be described as an individual whose total body weight is considerably higher than what is determined to be healthy for their height. Therefore, a body mass index is used as the assessment tool to determine if a person is considered to be obese or, in other terms, overweight. According to the BMI, an index of 30kgs per meter squared is considered to be obese research has shown that gen plays a vital role in human obesity (Ellulu et al., 2014). Adoptive research has further revealed that their children have identical body weight to that of their birth parents even though their eating habits are a result of adoptive parents yielding a heritability element in this research. Therefore, it can be deduced that obesity can lead to an upsurge in morbidity as well as comorbidity rates.

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Pathophysiology

Obesity is considered a serious clinical concern that is characterized by a pathophysiological procedure that raises adipose tissue mass. The pathophysiology of obesity possesses numerous networks that comprise adipocytes and include roughly a billion cells that are responsible for storing fats in different parts of the body (Redinger, 2007). However, it is important to note that these cells are accountable for the provision of energy reserves. The adipocytes comprise the largest endocrine system or tissue that passes messages to the other tissues, employing secretagogues. For instance, the proteohormone lectin, visfatin, and adiponectin is responsible for inflammation reaction in the human body. The molecules within the endocrine system relate with the brainstem, hypothalamus as well and the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for controlling appetite as well as stability. The adipocyte secretes cytokines and hormones that regulate visceral cholesterol accumulation, and these are perceived to be the basis for the development of obesity.

Therefore, understanding the pathophysiology of obesity will help reveal the core part that obesity has in the development of inflammatory adipokines in metabolic X syndrome. Numerous diseases such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and insulin resistance are a result of the upregulation of KF-KB, which is a type of Visceral WAT inflammatory adipokines (Olson, 2014).

The inflammatory adipokines, however, have a strong impact on obesity and comorbidity, and it makes it a preventable public health concern in America. Obesity is an overstatement of ordinary adiposity, and it is a primary play-actor in numerous pathophysiology of particular ailments in adults.

The Standard of Practice

According to the Healthy People Standard of Practice 2020, the care guide for obesity focuses on nutrition as well as the objectives tailored to reduce weight, and they are reflected in evidence-based activities. It is important to note that weight is commonly affected by the number of calories or the amount of energy consumed by an individual in comparison to the sum of calories expelled (Mercer, 2009).

Similarly, an individual by choice may decide to participate in dietary measures, and therefore altering a person's knowledge and skills may decrease the level of exposure to foods that are low in nutrients or have a high degree of calorie intake in addition to increased physical activities.

Pharmacological Treatment

To prevent obesity, improving individual nutritional habits as well as involvement in physical activities is the most effective. However, pharmacological interventions may be used in complementing lifestyle alteration, and they are employed as adjunct therapy with changes in lifestyle. Nevertheless, certain medications are effective in the treatment of obesity in case all other methods have failed.

However, in this case, the patients would be kept under very close supervision if certain medications such as Contrave, Qsymia, Saxenda, and as well as appetite depressants like diethylpropion are prescribed. When these interventions are used together with dietary modifications and increased physical activities, modest weight loss can be achieved.

Clinical Guidelines

The clinical guides pinpoint evaluate, as well as summarize current evidence-based studies and research for the best strategies in the treatment of obesity. The present guidelines suggest that the primary caregiver ought to assess the clientage for a particular BMI measure at the time of the visit.

The physician would, therefore, start by obtaining the past patient history, evaluating the patient's height and weight measures, computing the patient's BMI, assessing the client's waist circumference as well assessing any other medical issues. After gathering all this information about the patient, the caregiver would determine the severity of obesity and therefore develop a care plan followed by blood analysis.

Standard Practice of Disease Management

In different communities and states, the health care practitioners are on the frontline and consolidation with state government as well as other national standard practices recorded in AACE. The commonly used tool in the diagnostic is the BMI since it is fast and considered accurate for many patients alongside the measurement of waist circumference. Additionally, the doctors review the patient body mechanisms for other complications.

In the event, that the body reviews mid-obesity, a plan is established to monitor as well as educate the patient on the mechanism to lower BMI (Mercer, 2009). Keeping doctor appointments is essential to establish patient progress. To increase their level of activeness, they will have access to the public pool, parks, and walking trails. In addition to these persons having all the resources that they require to manage their weight, they will have access to affordable means of transportation to their responses, including buses, trains, and cars.

Managing Illness Characteristics and Resources

Persons who effectively manage obesity require the right resources and characteristics that are effective in supporting their lifestyle alterations. The characteristics of an individual managing their obesity effectively comprise weight loss of one to two pounds each week, having motivation towards healthy living and weight loss, adjusting their eating habits, and having increased physical activities.

Disparities

Particular ethnicities are at a higher risk of obesity, and this owing to their choices in dietary intake, there cultural atmosphere as well and access to food. Additionally, genetics plays a crucial part in parents who are obese. Another disparity is portrayed as access to medical care, knowledge based on exercise education, and transportation. It is essential to note that the rate of obesity among Latinos and Americans is significantly higher compared to the Caucasian population.

Managed Disease Factors

The managed disease element is dependent on several factors, which include the level of access to healthcare, the ability of the patient to pay, insurance, an individual willingness to manage the ailment as well as the level of knowledge. Therefore, this is related to the parent's capability to deliver. Does the patient additionally have access to the relevant support groups, and does the patient have access to affordable transportation means as well as the appropriate follow-up appointments? The elderly or individuals with low incomes are, therefore, not able to have proper access to healthcare which is essential in the management and follow-up of the measures for obesity. Managed care is having access to medical care that does not involve the emergency room.

Unmanaged Diseases Factors

Other medications that are a direct consequence of obesity like hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and diabetes are indications of unmanaged illness. Some factors that might result in such cases, include the patient's inability to comprehend the education materials owing to illiteracy, language barrier, vision issues, difficulties in reading as well as hearing problems.

Additionally, lack of finances may also play a vital part in a patient being unable to manage their disease, and this may include low monthly income as well as the patient's inability to buy healthier and fresh foods. Additionally, the lack of access to transportation for follow-up care means that the patient will only go for emergency issues. Lastly, emotional problems play a vital role, such as anxiety and depression, and hinder the patient's motivational factor and contribute to the unwillingness to change their behavior.

Unmanaged Disease Characteristics

Obesity is responsible for significant financial pressure on the people responsible for caring for the patient. It is essential to understand that ineffectively managed weight control results in additional complications. Obese persons experience difficulty in moving from the vehicle to the waiting area to the examination rooms, and this causes them to be embarrassed, and uncomfortable, and this causes them not to attend the doctor's visits. Their ignorance leads to the development of other medical condition complications

Patient Family and Population

Obesity puts a strain on the patient, and an emotional a financial burden on the affected, their families the community at large. It is very challenging for the family to see their loved ones in severe pain after they have done everything possible le to encourage and motivate them to adopt healthier lifestyle changes. In case a person is incapable of managing their weight, it means that they can not effectively manage their life and require assistance with their daily activities.

Cost

In case the patient is grossly obese, then they might apply for the disability owing to bet, and others reacted complications that are a consequence of obesity. In case the patient is unable to work, then the medical expenses are covered by the community and family through insurance premiums and taxes increased (Biener et al., 2017). The healthcare facility is forced to improve its prices to cover unpaid visits to the institutions. Some of the morbidly obese individuals prefer to use the hospital rather than the doctor's office. However, with limited healthcare coverage, the burden of medical expenses is left to the family and community to handle (Glandt & Raz, 2011).

Best Practice Promotion

The most effective practice that can be employed is the use of evidence-based education for the public. Starting with prevention, people must be educated on preventative measures, and this can be done through the appropriate recommendations on food selections like fruits and vegetables, proteins, and grains. The next phase is to have the public health community department provide education to the families of culturally diverse individuals and low-income earners. All the ages can be trained in healthy food choices.

Implementation Plan

The three current plans that I would recommend for my organization for best managing obesity would be daily education, assigning the patients who are a health concern to a life transformation trainer as well as a establishing a weight loss support group.