Office Base Strategies for the Management of Obesity 3
Introduction 3
Background 3
Aim 3
The purpose of the present literature review was to investigate obesity within the intellectual disability population. 3
Literature Review 3
Understanding the problem 6
Management Strategies 7
Policies at work Place 8
Awareness of Employees 9
Method 10
Results 10
Conclusion 10
References 11
Office Base Strategies for the Management of Obesity
Introduction
This research aims to discuss different office based strategies, which can help prevent and control obesity. The problem of obesity can be managed at workplace by providing financial incentives to employees as well as through health awareness programs and campaigns.
Background
Often, while working in office people do not have a real opportunity to observe the fractional mode power supply, which is needed to maintain normal body weight. Currently, obesity is the most common endocrine disease in the world, the prevalence of which has reached epidemic indicators around the world. Obesity frequently affects office-based workers (Carrel & Bernhardt, 2004). According to World Health Organization (WHO) obesity a global problem, which today is one of the most significant problems of office based workers. Among adults in offices around the world overweight and obesity in about 30 to 40% of cases are the causes of diabetes type 2, in 35% of cases - coronary heart disease and 55% - of hypertension. Each year, the cause of the disease is referred to one million deaths and another 12 million years of living the life of illness.
Aim
The aim of the study is to investigate strategies for the management of obesity among office-based worker.
Literature Review
Research shows that 55% of the women working in office gain weight, and some of them have recovered very strongly. According to experts, more a problem of obesity office for working women who are insufficiently attentive to their health. If a woman has a lot of work, it is often not enough time to prepare home-cooked meals (Carrel & Bernhardt, 2004). However, as for exercise and enough sleep. All this leads to a set of extra pounds. In addition, experts have found that office based workers who spend more than 49 hours a week in the office, more likely to smoke and drink And 65% of them, it ends with a serious illness like obesity. Throughout the previous 30 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. The rate of obesity has not only increased among general population but also among office based worker. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every three American adult is currently acknowledged obese, which is characterized as having a body mass file (BMI) of 30 or higher, and nearly 40 percent are overweight (Czernichow, et al., 2009). This is leading towards to diabetes, coronary illness, stroke and certain sorts of tumor. There are assortments of factors that play a role in obesity, which is an abundance of body fat. That imbalance occurs because of in a greater number of calories than consumed than burned off through metabolism and physical action. Socioeconomic status and heredity might have an impact on obesity, making it an unpredictable health issue to address (Spear, et al., 2007).
The causes of obesity are complex and multifactorial. In general, obesity develops from chronic energy imbalance is kept constant and the amount of energy consumption of such substrates which is sufficient to maintain the state of acquired obesity increased energy requirements. It is believed that the important factors in the development of obesity are high calorie diet, increased portion sizes, low physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and eating disorders. These behavioral and environmental factors lead to a breach of secretion and the structure of adipose tissue (hypertrophy and hyperplasia, inflammation) (Rao, 2010).
Over the last few years, the meals of Americans have been marked by a shift from home-cooked to fast food. It has been found from a research that approximately 7% of American population consumes fast food daily. A large portion of this food contains high calories and saturated fat. Another factor that has made Americans obese is a decrease in physical activities. The reduction in physical activities has created a gap between calorie intake and calorie consumption.
Employee obesity has become a significant global concern at workplace. The problem of obesity does not only exist in the United States but also in other parts of the world. The role of different community groups and organizations is significant in the prevention of obesity. The problem of obesity has concerned many groups because it is associated with several health hazards. In order to address this problem and increase the awareness of the public, it is important to develop health management strategies (Czernichow, et al., 2009).
The great news is that there is promise for addressing the obesity epidemic by handling the problem in the working environment, where 139 million Americans spend large portion of their time. With their laborers using a normal of 40 hours a week at work, employers have a chance to create a healthier workforce by encouraging a health-conscious work environment. This can be done by allowing workers to eat better and engage in activities that are more physical (Czernichow, et al., 2009).
The psychosocial effects of obesity are less examined than physical effects. Fat people have probably less ratio to face segregation at work and in other settings than people with typical weight do (Carrel & Bernhardt, 2004). Despite this, doctors see obesity as a serious problem, which needs to be addressed. The possible hindrances include an absence of time, community-based weight management programs, and others.
Historically, it was believed that people living in Western societies only face the problem of obesity. However, recently, the problem has emerged as a significant health concern around the world (Spear, et al., 2007). The problem is faced by both eastern and western societies. The increase in obesity is because of changes taking place in the lifestyle and eating habits of people. Obesity is considered a serious issue in the United States as well as in other parts of the world because it is associated with coronary heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and other problems. Furthermore, obese people are vulnerable to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
With an increase in the number of obese people, different programs have been developed to improve the health of people and to prevent obesity (Ryan & Stewart, 2004). There are different studies, which have been conducted, in order to design and evaluate obesity-management programs. One of the examples of such efforts includes health promotional programs. The purpose of these programs is to increase the awareness of people regarding obesity and to provide them information regarding steps they should take to prevent or control obesity.
Understanding the problem
The obesity-management problems are not only designed and implemented at the societal level but also in workplaces (Ryan & Stewart, 2004). The employers are looking for different strategies to encourage and motivate their employees to main good health. It is important for all workplaces, particularly large organizations, to develop strategies, which prevent obesity among office based workers. Workplaces can collaborate with local partners in order to ensure that adequate actions to fight against obesity and to help people with ID to maintain a healthy lifestyle. There are different strategies, which can be designed at workplaces to help employees fight obesity. The economic consequences and healthcare costs in connection with the problem under discussion is very important (Mayer, 2006).
Management Strategies
One of the office based obesity management strategy is to provide incentives to employees. The financial incentives motivate people to change their behavior. Therefore, the financial incentives can be offered to promote good health of employees (Rao, 2010). The benefits of these programs are for not only employees but also employers. When employees are healthy, their performance is increased. The healthy employees are less likely to go for leaves than those who are not healthy.
Another office-based obesity management strategy is to provide opportunities to eat healthy food (Rao, 2010). Employers must also provide the opportunities to be physically active. In order to promote physical activity, people with ID must be given frequent short breaks from their work. Workplaces can also create an environment, which encourages these employees to be active. For example, they can improve their stairwell, provide cycle parking, and allow employees to go for lunchtime walks (Carrel & Bernhardt, 2004). Similarly, other leisure activities can also be introduced at the workplace to ensure that employees are engaged in physical activities.
The employers are also implementing several other strategies to promote the good health of workers. One example of these strategies is the introduction and implementation of a health screening policy for every employee. Employees, who do not fulfill their responsibilities according to the policy, are required to pay surcharge. The goal of the policy is to keep employees healthy (Rao, 2010).
There has been an increase in the number of employers who are presently taking the health of population’s administration approach to works and their family health in Jamaica and Caribbean, Numerous organizations have presented systems that are specifically pointed at helping workers pick healthful life-styles choices, and some are focusing on spouses and kids too (Ryan & Stewart, 2004).
There are three levels of strategies utilized by organizations to help workers and families accomplish healthier lifestyles. There are different programs and practices that are not yet regular however ought to be recognized keeping in mind the end goal to fight obesity. Businesses fund healthcare in America by giving claims, giving corporate and classifiable disbursals for Medicare and other projects. Business managers are interested affordability of social insurance and addressing obesity. It is because obesity is the key driver of health expenses and many diseases.
Ideally, for an eight-hour workday the employee should be able to eat lunch in the form of fruits, vegetables, low fat or drinking dairy products, the lunch should include a salad of fresh vegetables and a hot entree, as well as afternoon tea (Ryan & Stewart, 2004). All this allows you to avoid overeating in the evening - during dinner and at bedtime. In addition, to increase physical activity even in the office work is possible, if, for example, to give up the elevator in favor of the stairs, and also make a 30-minute walks after work.
Policies at work Place
Employers can create their policies according to their workplace requirements and practices intended to promote healthy lifestyles with healthy weight balance among their employees. They can facilitate the health of employees at the workplace. A large number of weight management strategies do not require additional expenses, and a couple of may can save expenses; for example, decreasing the quantity of food approachable at workplace or off-site occasions.
Employers prohibit employees to smoke or drink at work. They can also extend this policy to prevent the unnecessary utilization of high-calorie foods and drinks. Employers have sufficient control over work environment (Rao, 2010). Their conscious decisions can contribute effectively towards changing the habits and behaviors of employees. There are different environment factors, which contribute towards excessive eating. It has been found from studies that environment factors play a larger role than personal factors in influencing the decision of overconsumption. It has also been found from studies that people consume more food whey are in groups. When people eat in groups, they continue eating as long as the food is present. This result in an increase for food they consume (Mayer, 2006).
Employers can play a significant role in preventing overconsumption at work. They can reduce the variety of unhealthy food at cafeterias and vending machines. The company-paid lunch and breakfast must meet the nutritional requirements. It is also important to conduct audits of cafeterias in order to manage health and wellness of employees (Rao, 2010).
The office canteens often offer fast food to employees including burgers, cold drinks, and French fries. Therefore, the management of the workplace needs to get involved in the health management plan. The messages about nutrition and physical activity should be communicated through the campaigns of different products such as milk, fresh juices, and others. The awareness programs must also be conducted in order to increase the awareness of different risk factors present in the environment.
Awareness of Employees
In order to increase the awareness of employees about obesity and to highlight the role of fast food consumption in obesity, the organizations can also organize events. The purpose of the events will be to engage both employees in the process of decreasing fast food consumption and increasing physical activity (Mayer, 2006). For the purpose of event sponsorship, the brands offering healthy alternatives to fast food and snacks can be approached. In the events, all employees as well as their families must be invited. The key messages that must be delivered through the event include the consumption of healthy drinking water, physical activities, and consumption of fruits and vegetables. In order to employees, group discussions can also be arranged. The organizations can also arrange workshops for employees to make them aware about healthy eating practices. The workplace health-marketing plan is also an effective strategy for preventing and controlling obesity. The elements of the social marketing plan will focus on changing the behavior of employees.
Method
The key to success of any research is its systematic and comprehensive approach to solving problems. This research study is based on qualitative research methods. Qualitative methods involve collecting information in a free form, they do not focus on statistical measurements, and based on the understanding, explanation and interpretation of empirical data, are a source of hypothesis formation and productive ideas (Czernichow, et al., 2009). Task of qualitative research methods - get the survey data, not quantitative distribution of opinions. In qualitative methods in order to explain, to interpret the concepts used are not numbers, and words. For the purpose of this research study, review of literature was conducted based on the other research studies available on this topic and sources for this research were taken from online databases: CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE and PsycARTICLES. In addition, there was other online journal databases searched find material for the purpose of this research study.
Results
Based on the qualitative methods twelve researches studies were found meeting the criteria of this study and three out of them were qualitative and others were quantitative research studies. The four main themes that emerged from the literature were prevalence of obesity, implications of obesity on health, and implications of obesity on nurses’ attitudes and health promotion towards obesity. It has found that commonness of obesity, significances of obesity in relation to the office health strategies, significance of obesity in relation to attitude of nurses, and health promotion are the were the four major themes that appeared from the review of literature.
Conclusion
Overall, it has found that many small firms can have difficulty to allocate a special room for fitness. However, there is a solution where employees can exercise in the same place, where they spend their working day. In today advanced world, there are so many countries around globe that prefer this practice in the office. It has found that in Germany sitting at a computer, employees can do exercises for the arms, legs and head, push-ups at the table or they can use a bottle of mineral water as a dumbbell. Finally, it is concluded that regardless of their weight, all staff members should support each other in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, or at least to provide healthy food for office. Employees ask their boss to support them in office and provide snacks that do not contain sugar as well as beneficial to health drinks and water. Employees should not be held hostage to unhealthy eating habits, forced upon you at work.
References
Carrel, A. L., & Bernhardt, D. T. (2004). Exercise prescription for the prevention of obesity in adolescents. Current sports medicine reports, 3, 330–336.
Czernichow, S., Vergnaud, A.-C., Maillard-Teyssier, L., Péneau, S., Bertrais, S., Méjean, C., Hercberg, S. (2009). Trends in the prevalence of obesity in employed adults in central-western France: a population-based study, 1995-2005. Preventive medicine, 48, 262–266. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.12.016
Mayer, H. (2006). [Diagnosis and treatment of overweight in children and adolescents]. MMW Fortschr Med, 148, 38–40.
Rao, G. (2010). Office-based strategies for the management of obesity. American Family Physician, 81, 1449–1455.
Ryan, D. H., & Stewart, T. M. (2004). Medical management of obesity in women: office-based approaches to weight management. Clinical obstetrics and gynecology, 47, 914–927; discussion 980–981. doi:10.1097/01.grf.0000135359.63019.22
Spear, B. a, Spear, B. a, Barlow, S. E., Barlow, S. E., Ervin, C., Ervin, C., Taveras, E. M. (2007). Recommendations for treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity. Pediatrics, 120 Suppl , S254–88. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2329F
