Discussion: Obesity: A Global Health Concern
Obesity is a continuing challenge for citizens and health care providers in the United States, as you likely know. Obesity can lead to numerous chronic health problems, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Childhood diabetes is also increasing at a disconcerting rate, which will lead to an increased health care burden within a few short years. Current estimates set the cost of obesity on the U.S. health care system at $147–$210 billion per year (The State of Obesity, 2016). Think about this week’s media as you take a moment to consider obesity as a burgeoning global challenge
ASSIGMNENT:
Post an obesity health promotion and prevention strategy a nurse could implement for a specific cultural group in the United States. Then, modify your message for use in one other country, being sensitive to the cultural nuances of the country you select. Describe why you chose to take the approach you did in your strategies and explain any challenges you anticipate a nurse may encounter when trying to implement these strategies.
Support your response with references from the professional nursing literature.
Note Initial Post: A 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidence from the readings and include in-text citations. Utilize essay-level writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional material and organizational frames. Avoid quotes; paraphrase to incorporate evidence into your own writing. Three references are required. Use the most current evidence (usually ≤ 5 years old).
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Obesity is a global health concern that not only affects the United States but also various countries. As a medical professor, it is essential to provide strategies to prevent and promote health related to obesity. This assignment aims to provide nursing strategies that nurses could implement for a specific cultural group in the United States and modify the message for use in another country while being sensitive to the cultural nuances.
Answer:
For the specific cultural group of African Americans in the United States, a health promotion and prevention strategy would be to incorporate culturally relevant foods during meals. Collaborating with community health workers and local businesses to introduce more healthy food options, such as fresh produce and lean protein, can decrease the risk of obesity and chronic disease. Additionally, nurses can provide nutrition education and offer cooking classes that highlight affordable and healthy recipes that are culturally sensitive.
When modifying the message for use in another country, such as Mexico, it is important to acknowledge the cultural differences and adapt the strategy accordingly. For example, in Mexico, the cultural significance of food plays a significant role in mealtimes. Therefore, implementing a health promotion and prevention strategy that focuses on incorporating culturally relevant foods while emphasizing portion control can be beneficial. Furthermore, collaborating with local food businesses to provide healthy options that align with Mexican cuisine can also be effective.
Challenges that nurses may encounter when implementing these strategies may include cultural misunderstandings and language barriers. Collaborating with community health workers who are knowledgeable about the cultural nuances of the specific group can help to overcome these challenges. Additionally, providing educational resources in multiple languages can help to engage and empower individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
In conclusion, providing culturally relevant health promotion and prevention strategies for obesity is imperative in improving the health outcomes of individuals and communities, both locally and globally. Disparities in obesity prevalence and health outcomes exist among different cultures, and it is the responsibility of nurses and healthcare providers to develop and implement strategies that are sensitive to cultural nuances.
