A Clinical Protocol for the Assessment of Obesity: Addressing an Epidemic.
The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of addressing obesity, a national epidemic. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the utilization of a clinical practice protocol for identifying patients who are obese or at risk for obesity in the primary care setting. The practice protocol includes guidelines for assessment, documentation, and a consistent educational intervention for the identified priority population. The rapidly increasing incidence of obesity in our primary care practices supports the need for evidence-based approaches to ensure consistent assessment and documentation, thereby increasing the potential for weight management and obesity reduction.
The Ohio State University College of Nursing, 1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: rinehart.215@osu.edu.
Candy S
CS
Rinehart
The University of Alabama, Capstone College of Nursing, 650 University Boulevard East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA.
JoAnn S
JS
Oliver
D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
Educational interventions; Obesity; Obesity assessment; Weight loss