Why is obesity a condition which should be studied by all health professionals?
Australia has the 5th highest % in the world. Growth rate has been above predictions for the last 2 censuses. 63% of Australians are overwieght/obese.
Why is the percentage so concerning to health care?
- Heart diseas
- HT
- T2DM
- Asthma
- Joint disease
- Cancer (breast, bowel, uterine)
- Fertility issues
- Inflammatory skin conditoins
- GORD
- Depression and other mental illnesses
*Higher medication requirement, medical interventions required, hospitalization, health care costs, and mortality.
If obesity is a major health concern, why does it not have healthcare to support interventions?
- BMI is an inaccurate classification
- Obesity is higher in certain communities that don’t always have the ability to access the required health care (lower socioeconomic, high crime rate areas, rural areas, populations with low literacy).
- Funding obesity treatments is poor across both territory and PHC.
- Training for health practitioners is low.
- Weight gain stigma and bias
- Large volumes of research and controversies
What are important considerations in supporting patients to lose weight?
- No one size fits all
- The underlying cause of obesity is important to achieve sustainable health improvement.
- Obesity is now a complex condition
- Team approach is vital for outcomes
What criteria is required for a service or health practitioner to support a patients weight loss?
- Understanding the complexity of obesity
- Knowledge of all weight loss options and access barriers
- Assess to weight loss service can link to health care risks.
- Equipment and environmental considerations
- Increase and use of the 5A’s that supports the diagnosis and interventions for weight management
What are the options for weight loss interventions?
- Lifestyle
- Medication
- Surgery
What is lifestyle weight loss?
Lifestyle weight loss is changing the Pt’s presenting lifestyle to achieve sustainable weight management and health improvement.
Assessing and changing diet, physical activity, stress, mental and physical health, sleep
What is medication weight loss?
Medication that can influence obesity = increase/decrease appetite, changes to metabolism, reduce sleep
What is Bariatric surgery?
Are operations to change the Pt’s metabolism by surgical intervention.
What are types of bariatric surgery?
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- RY bypass
- Gastric band
What are the assessment and considerations pre bariatric surgery?
- Weight, height, BMI
- Weight loss Hx
- Obesity related medical conditions
- Age
- Blood tests (nutrition, CVD, T2DM)
- Dietitian assessment
- Psychological assessment
- Surgical risk assessment and choice assessment.
What are some of the complications? [for bariatric surgery]
Bleeding, pain, respiratory failure, low CO, leakages, mobility difficulties
What are important considerations?
Pt involvement, sustainability, health risk to Pt, improving QOL
