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:
- Imbalanced Nutrition: More Than Body Requirements
- Disturbed Body Image
- Impaired Social Isolation
- Deficient Knowledge
Deficient Knowledge
Nursing Diagnosis
May be related to
- Lack of/misinterpretation of information
- Lack of interest in learning, lack of recall
- Inaccurate/incomplete information presented
Possibly evidenced by
- Statements of lack of/request for information about obesity and nutritional requirements
- Verbalization of problem with weight reduction
- Inadequate follow-through with previous diet and exercise instructions
Desired Outcomes
- Client will verbalize understanding of need for lifestyle changes to maintain/control weight.
- Client will establish individual goal and plan for attaining that goal.
- Client will begin to look for information about nutrition and ways to control weight.
Nursing Interventions | Rationale |
---|---|
Determine level of nutritional knowledge and what patient believes is most urgent need. | Necessary to know what additional information to provide. When patient’s views are listened to, trust is enhanced. |
Identify individual holistic long-term goals for health (lowering blood pressure, controlling serum lipid and glucose levels). | A high relapse rate at 5-year follow-up suggests obesity cannot be reliably reversed and cured. Shifting the focus from initial weight loss and percentage of body fat to overall wellness may enhance rehabilitation. |
Provide information about ways to maintain satisfactory food intake in settings away from home. | “Smart” eating when dining out or when traveling helps individual manage weight while still enjoying social outlets. |
Identify other sources of information like books, tapes, community classes, groups. | Using different avenues of accessing information furthers patient’s learning. Involvement with others who are also losing weight can provide support. |
Emphasize necessity of continued follow-up care and counseling, especially when plateaus occur. | As weight is lost, changes in metabolism occur, interfering with further loss by creating a plateau as the body activates a survival mechanism, attempting to prevent “starvation.” This requires new strategies and aggressive support to continue weight loss. |
Identify alternatives to chosen activity program to accommodate weather, travel, and so on. Discuss use of mechanical devices and equipment for reducing. | Promotes continuation of program. Note: Fat loss occurs on a generalized overall basis, and there is no evidence that spot reducing or mechanical devices aid in weight loss in specific areas; however, specific types of exercise or equipment may be useful in toning specific body parts. |
Determine optimal exercise heart rate. Demonstrate proper technique to monitor pulse. | Promotes safety as patient exercises to tolerance, not peer pressure. |
Discuss necessity of good skin care, especially during summer months and following exercise. | Prevents skin breakdown in moist skin folds. |
Identify alternative ways to “reward” self and family for accomplishments or to provide solace. | Reduces likelihood of relying on food to deal with feelings. |
Encourage involvement in social activities that are not centered around food (bike ride or nature hike, attending musical event, group sporting activities). | Provides opportunity for pleasure and relaxation without “temptation.” Activities and exercise may also use calories to help maintain desired weight. |
Recommended Resources
Recommended nursing diagnosis and nursing care plan books and resources.
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- Nursing Care Plans: Nursing Diagnosis and Intervention (10th Edition)
An awesome book to help you create and customize effective nursing care plans. We highly recommend this book for its completeness and ease of use. - Nurse’s Pocket Guide: Diagnoses, Prioritized Interventions and Rationales
A quick-reference tool to easily select the appropriate nursing diagnosis to plan your patient’s care effectively. - NANDA International Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions & Classification, 2021-2023 (12th Edition)
The official and definitive guide to nursing diagnoses as reviewed and approved by the NANDA-I. This book focuses on the nursing diagnostic labels, their defining characteristics, and risk factors – this does not include nursing interventions and rationales. - Nursing Diagnosis Handbook, 12th Edition Revised Reprint with 2021-2023 NANDA-I® Updates
Another great nursing care plan resource that is updated to include the recent NANDA-I updates. - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5(TM))
Useful for creating nursing care plans related to mental health and psychiatric nursing. - Ulrich & Canale’s Nursing Care Planning Guides, 8th Edition
Claims to have the most in-depth care plans of any nursing care planning book. Includes 31 detailed nursing diagnosis care plans and 63 disease/disorder care plans. - Maternal Newborn Nursing Care Plans (3rd Edition)
If you’re looking for specific care plans related to maternal and newborn nursing care, this book is for you. - Nursing Diagnosis Manual: Planning, Individualizing, and Documenting Client Care (7th Edition)
An easy-to-use nursing care plan book that is updated with the latest diagnosis from NANDA-I 2021-2023. - All-in-One Nursing Care Planning Resource: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Maternity, and Psychiatric-Mental Health (5th Edition)
Definitely an all-in-one resources for nursing care planning. It has over 100 care plans for different nursing topics.
See also
Other recommended site resources for this nursing care plan:
- Nursing Care Plans (NCP): Ultimate Guide and Database
Over 150+ nursing care plans for different diseases and conditions. Includes our easy-to-follow guide on how to create nursing care plans from scratch. - Nursing Diagnosis Guide and List: All You Need to Know to Master Diagnosing
Our comprehensive guide on how to create and write diagnostic labels. Includes detailed nursing care plan guides for common nursing diagnostic labels.
Other nursing care plans related to endocrine system and metabolism disorders:
- Acid-Base Balance
- – Respiratory Acidosis Nursing Care Plan
- – Respiratory Alkalosis Nursing Care Plan
- – Metabolic Acidosis Nursing Care Plan
- – Metabolic Alkalosis Nursing Care Plan
- Addison’s Disease | 3 Care Plans
- Cushing’s Disease | 6 Care Plans
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (Juvenile Diabetes) | 4 Care Plans
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 | 17 Care Plans
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS) | 4 Care Plans
- Eating Disorders: Anorexia & Bulimia Nervosa | 7 Care Plans
- Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances | 10 Care Plans
- – Fluid Balance: Hypervolemia & Hypovolemia
- – Potassium (K) Imbalances: Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia
- – Sodium (Na) Imbalances: Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia
- – Magnesium (Mg) Imbalances: Hypermagnesemia and Hypomagnesemia
- – Calcium (Ca) Imbalances: Hypercalcemia and Hypocalcemia
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus | 4 Care Plans
- Hyperthyroidism | 7 Care Plans
- Hypothyroidism | 3 Care Plans
- Obesity | 4 Care Plans
- Thyroidectomy | 5 Care Plans
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