4 Obesity Nursing Care Plans

Updated on May 5, 2019

Obesity is a complex disorder involving an excess accumulation of body fat at least 20% over average desired weight for age, sex, and height or a body mass index of greater than 27.8 for men and greater than 27.3 for women. Obesity isn’t just a cosmetic concern. It increases your risk of diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for his or her height.

Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might affect your weight include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods, and not being physically active.

Nursing Care Plans

Nursing care management for patients with obesity includes identification of inappropriate behaviors that cause obesity, preparing a diet plan, determining nutritional knowledge, and providing information.

Here are four (4) nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis for obesity:

Impaired Social Interaction

Impaired Social Interaction: Insufficient or excessive quantity or ineffective quality of social exchange.

May be related to

Verbalized or observed discomfort in social situations
Self-concept disturbance

Possibly evidenced by

Reluctance to participate in social gatherings
Verbalization of a sense of discomfort with others

Desired Outcomes

Client will verbalize awareness of feelings that lead to poor social interactions.
Client will become involved in achieving positive changes in social behaviors and interpersonal relationships.

Nursing Interventions	Rationale
Review family patterns of relating and social behaviors.	Social interaction is primarily learned within the family of origin. When inadequate patterns are identified, actions for change can be instituted.
Encourage patient to express feelings and perceptions of problems.	Helps identify and clarify reasons for difficulties in interacting with others (may feel unloved and unlovable or insecure about sexuality).
Assess patient’s use of coping skills and defense mechanisms.	May have coping skills that will be useful in the process of weight loss. Defense mechanisms used to protect the individual may contribute to feelings of aloneness and isolation.
Have patient list behaviors that cause discomfort.	Identifies specific concerns and suggests actions that can be taken to effect change.
Involve in role-playing new ways to deal with identified behaviors and situations.	Practicing these new behaviors enables the individual to become comfortable with them in a safe situation.
Discuss negative self-concepts and self-talk, “No one wants to be with a fat person,” “Who would be interested in talking to me?”	May be impeding positive social interactions.
Encourage use of positive self-talk such as telling oneself “I am OK,” or “I can enjoy social activities and do not need to be controlled by what others think or say.”	Positive strategies enhance feelings of comfort and support efforts for change.
Refer for ongoing family or individual therapy as indicated.	Patient benefits from involvement of SO to provide support and encouragement.