Reflect upon the eight national practice problems presented in the Global Burden of Disease Research.

Practice Problem: Obesity

1- From a global/nationwide perspective, how does the selected practice problem impact nurses, nursing care, healthcare organizations, and the quality of care being provided?

Obesity is a global health problem that affects individuals, families, communities, and nations. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, in 2019, approximately 2.4 billion people worldwide were overweight, and more than 700 million people were obese (GDB 2019 Obesity Collaborators, 2021). Obesity has significant implications for nurses, nursing care, healthcare organizations, and the quality of care being provided. Obese patients are at higher risk for developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, which can require complex care management. Nurses and healthcare organizations need to have knowledge and skills to provide quality care to patients with obesity, including the ability to assess, monitor, and manage obesity-related complications. Healthcare organizations may also need to invest in equipment and facilities that can accommodate larger patients.

2- Identify the national level key stakeholders who are affected by the practice problem and stakeholders involved in resolution.

The national level key stakeholders affected by the problem of obesity include healthcare providers, public health officials, policymakers, educators, and community organizations. Healthcare providers, including nurses, play a critical role in identifying, assessing, and managing obesity in patients. Public health officials and policymakers are responsible for implementing policies and interventions aimed at preventing obesity and promoting healthy lifestyles. Educators can help promote healthy behaviors through nutrition education and physical activity programs. Community organizations, such as faith-based organizations and non-governmental organizations, can also play a role in promoting healthy behaviors and providing support for individuals with obesity.

3- Are clinical practice guidelines used to address this problem? Why or why not? If used, provide a brief overview of the CPG. If a CPG is not used, propose an intervention that could be implemented on a national scale to address the problem.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are available to address the problem of obesity. The American Medical Association and the World Health Organization have published CPGs for the prevention and management of obesity. The CPGs provide evidence-based recommendations for the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity. The recommendations include lifestyle interventions, such as dietary changes and increased physical activity, as well as pharmacologic and surgical interventions for severe obesity (American Medical Association, 2013; World Health Organization, 2020).

One intervention that could be implemented on a national scale to address the problem of obesity is the implementation of community-based interventions. Community-based interventions can promote healthy behaviors, increase access to healthy foods, and create supportive environments for physical activity. These interventions can include community gardens, farmers’ markets, walking and biking trails, and school-based physical activity programs. Community-based interventions can also involve collaborations between healthcare providers, public health officials, policymakers, educators, and community organizations to develop and implement effective interventions (Leeman et al., 2015).