Abstrato

Obesity Assessment and Evaluation in Primary care

Safa M Osman

Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, multifactorial, and neurobehavior where an increase in body fat promotes tissue dysfunction and abnormal physical stress to the body because of excess fat mass. This causes metabolic, biomechanical, and psychological health consequences. Affecting millions, the prevalence of obesity is rising rapidly and may also affect over 50% of the population in the United States by 2030. Taking the first steps to understanding this disease and treating patients affected by overweight and obesity will have a significant impact on the lives of our patients. Obesity is the leading cause to over one hundred diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia etc. Obesity is the biggest driver of chronic diseases and healthcare costs. Individuals with obesity are likely to be prescribed medications to manage chronic diseases compared to individuals of healthy weight. Using the 5 “As” of obesity management is a great tool in primary care to approach patients with obesity. Obtaining nutrition and physical activity history is necessary in the evaluation of obesity. Taking the time to complete a comprehensive assessment and evaluation in primary care setting is important for the individualization and optimization of the various treatment options. Obesity is associated with a significant psychosocial burden. Evaluation of psychosocial functioning is an important part of developing an effective treatment plan. Taking obesity as a centric approach to tackle the root of the problems and improve overall outcome should be the key advent in primary care. Each patient is unique, so the approach to treating each patient is equally unique.