Effects Of Obesity On The Adolescent Population

Effects Of Obesity On The Adolescent Population

Personal identity of body image is an essential goal of development for adolescents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over the recent decades, the rate of obesity has increased significantly in the United States. Over three decades, the rate of obesity in adolescents has quadrupled (ACAP, 2016). Today, the percentage of adolescents who are diagnosed with obesity has increased to 21% from 5% since the 1980s. Approximately one-third of adolescents in the United States are considered to suffer from obesity. Obesity is defined as an excess amount of body fat that is greater than 20 percent of one’s normal Body Mass Index. One of the most common eating disorders that affects the adolescent population is obesity. Studies have found that children who are overweight grow up to be obese adults and that the belief of growing into their weight is false. Teens become overweight because they consume a more significant amount of calories than burning them off. By being less active, the calories that are not being burnt accumulate and contribute to obesity. Although genetic factors may be the reason, unhealthy lifestyle choices are the main factor in becoming obese (ACAP, 2016). The American diet consists of junk and processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle; while teens are spending more hours on social media then being active contributes to the increase of overweight youth (H.C.V., n.d.). Obesity is a public health issue that is ongoing because obese adolescents are at risk of developing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cardiac disease, cerebrovascular accidents, musculoskeletal and joint problems, hypertension, asthma, sleep disorders, liver/gallbladder disease, and various types of cancer.

Adolescents who are obese remain obese as they become adults; their life expectancy as adults declines as a result of complications and conditions that develop as a result of being overweight. Social debilitation, low self-esteem, and depression can also result from obesity influences, which can result in increased stress and disorders of mental health. Studies have found that compared to teens who are a healthy weight, obese teens have a higher rate of being bullied, as well as bullying from name-calling, teasing, and physical bullying (Lui, 2016).

Various environmental and genetic factors are linked to obesity in the adolescent population. Teens who grow up in low-income households are exposed to multiple stressors, resulting in higher rates of obesity. Multiple psychosocial stressors that contribute to the obesity epidemic face adolescents. By identifying the external stressors that are linked to obesity in teens, we can use that knowledge to modify or remove those factors that contribute to obesity — external stressors related to various adverse health outcomes for teens. The conditions in the home that cause stress include the influences that parents and their parenting have on the youth, exposing them to domestic violence, problems in marriage resulting in divorce, risky behaviors, child abuse, and chronic conditions within the family that add to increased strain within the family unit (Gundersen, 2015). The psychological stress creates negative influences on the teen’s well-being, setting the stage for becoming obese. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to teens becoming obese because they do not adequately cope with stressors, as manifested by eating foods that are not healthy and result in them being overweight (Gundersen, 2015). Screening for obesity in youth involves calculating the body mass index, which represents the data points for children of the same gender and age. B.M.I. percentiles that are within the 5th to 85th percentiles are within the recommended range for health; over the 85th and 95th percentiles confirm the youth being overweight. It is crucial to change behaviors in teens to prevent obesity; these changes include better food choices that promote health, increasing physical activity, and making sure they get adequate sleep. When the whole family is involved in maintaining healthy diets and being active, the teens who are at risk of being obese can find hope in losing weight (H.V.C., n.d.). Programs that are in place as a resource for overweight teens include Let’s Move, The YMCA, Kids Health, and Healthychildren.org. Many of these programs provide counseling for children, promote activities to get them exercising more often, and provide other educational support for both teens and parents to remain consistent in preventing obesity (ACAP, 2016).

It is essential for the health care provider to approach the adolescent competently and confidently, which incorporates an understanding of ethical issues related to adolescent health. There must be a balance between respecting the teen’s development aptitude for making decisions and autonomy as well as involving their parents for supervision and encouragement. In the management of the adolescent experience, it is vital to address concerns regarding conflicts between parents/adolescents, evolving autonomy, control of behaviors that are high-risk, and reviewing confidentiality as it relates to underage patients (Fleischman, 2016).

It is normal for the developing adolescent to become more involved in making decisions about their healthcare, and they may request that everything be confidential. There are limitations to the confidentiality of a minor, and it is vital to use anticipatory guidance for both parents and adolescent patients. The nurse must determine the patient’s stage of development emotionally and cognitively when taking requests for control over decisions of care. The only situation when the healthcare information of a minor may remain confidential is when the healthcare issue involves reproductive health in order to limit the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and the prevention of underage pregnancy (Fleischman, 2016).

As health care providers, it is essential to educate patients and families and implement plans for reducing obesity in childhood before complications develop. Nurses should advocate for policies that support programs that mitigate financial hardship within families who have higher incidents of becoming obese. It is vital to support those programs that focus on assisting teens in developing resources and tools to enable them to effectively cope with stress, which is a contributing factor to becoming overweight.

References

Aacap. (2016, April). Obesity In Children And Teens. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from http://www.aacap.org/aacap/fffprint/article_print.aspx?dn=Obesity-In-Children-And-Teens-079

Fleischman, A. R. (2016). Ethical Issues in the Care of Adolescents. Oxford Medicine Online. doi:10.1093/med/9780199354474.003.0008

Gundersen, C., Mahatmya, D., Garasky, S., & Lohman, B. (2015). Linking psychosocial stressors and childhood obesity. Obesity Reviews,12(5). doi:10.1111/j.1467-789x.2010.00813.x

Healthy Ventura County. (n.d.). Obesity in Children. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from http://healthyventuracounty.org/healthy-kids/obesity-in-children/

Lui, C. (2016, August). Teen Obesity. Retrieved December 9, 2018, from http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/diseases/obesity.html

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Each CLC team will create a PowerPoint presentation that addresses an area of health psychology and increases patient adherence to medical advice. The goal is to attempt to solve a specific problem. Address the following:

Your health issue for this assignment should be the same one that you chose for Topic 4.

Effects Of Obesity On The Adolescent Population

Select a topic: topics include subjects that have been covered in the course thus far (e.g., substance abuse, adherence to complex medical regimens, reducing health risks to cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes).
The program design includes:

Target population

Scope of the current problem

Location in which the program will be implemented. Justify why this location is chosen.

Specific techniques or strategies implemented. Include research to support why these are the best techniques or strategies.

Discuss ways to help patients adhere to medical advice.

Logistical concerns: cost or community/provider attitudes

Use school databases; include four to six outside references or other resources for evidentiary support which may include the textbook or assigned readings.

CLC members will compile the assignment into one PowerPoint presentation.

Please include speaker notes for each slide. It is expected that you have speaker notes of 25-50 words per slide.