There is an epidemic in this nation regarding obesity and the overall health of the people living here. This is specifically true of children who are given leeway in choosing what they eat when they want to eat it. According to Hoelscher et al (2013), there is a dangerous epidemic in the country that supersedes terrorism or other threats that have comes into existence and it is threatening people of all races, income levels and ages. It is poor dietary and exercise habits which leads into severe health issues such as heart problems and diabetes. One such case is twelve year old Brooke who had weight loss surgery but gained back all of her weight and needs to gain control of her situation before it leads to more severe problems. This paper will address Brooke’s problems with controlling her weight as well as how her case can be treated over a three month period so she can permanently address her issues without fear of further harming herself physically or psychologically.
For starters, Brooke and her parents must understand that her past failures must be classified as such and they have to move forward in order to successfully address her weight loss issues. According to Satter (1996), internal regulation of the issues Brooke experiences which prevent her from being successful in her attempts at weight loss must be addressed in order for her to finally have the ability to be successful in keeping off her excess weight. A prime example of how this can be accomplished is to in addition to retraining Brooke in how to properly choose the proper foods to eat during specific times of the day (Satter, 2012) she also needs to attend counseling sessions so she can help solve the psychological issues that keep her from being able to keep off the weight once she loses it. Satter (1996) further argues that the initial regulation of these psychological issues in children like Brooke, whether mild or severe, can hold the key to their success or failure in keeping their weight under control. Their impulse control is determined by their overall emotional well-being which is often neglected in a weight loss program; this is true for both adults and children.
What is interesting about studies regarding childhood obesity that also plays into Brooke’s treatment plan is that race and income level does have some effect into what children could or could not become obese. According to the study performed by Hoelscher et al (2013), non-Hispanic white children such as Brooke are more likely to become obese than Hispanic or African American children because of genetics and income levels. There are other factors that come into consideration, but of course these are all ones that have to be laid on the table when making a treatment plan for Brooke. Her parents must also be held accountable for giving her what she wants and giving her the ability to make excuses for her lack of accountability for her weight gain. Satter (2012) writes that parents must teach their children personal accountability as well as responsible food choices if they hope to be of true assistance to their child. Therefore, as part of Brooke’s three month treatment plan, the parents must also have educational classes and attend classes so they can also learn how they can become useful in the process their daughter is undergoing.
Treatment goals in addition to addressing psychological issues preventing Brooke from achieving her long-term goals as well as getting the parents on board with this new approach would include impressing upon all parties the importance of sticking with the diet and exercise plan. Hoelscher et al (2013) write that the primary goals of any plan should include the following points:
1. Make physical activity an integral and routine part of life;
2. Create food and beverage environments that ensure healthy food and beverage options are the routine, easy choice;
3. Market healthy messages about physical activity and nutrition;
4. Expand the role of health care providers, insurers, and employers in obesity prevention; and
5. Make schools a national focal point for obesity prevention.
When comparing these points to the information included in Satter’s book (2012), there is a great deal of information that is similar. In developing a treatment plan for Brooke, all of this is useful and included in the actual plan so she can finally be successful in her journey to achieve successful long-term weight loss. Hoelscher et al (2013) argues that additional information such as waist circumference, blood glucose levels and other health-related information in addition to what has already been discussed previously will also help to develop a comprehensive three month treatment plan for Brooke.
In summary, the three month treatment plan for Brooke includes gathering additional medical information as well as psychological information that can assist with her long-term success, placing her as well as her parents in counseling as well as educational classes and closely monitoring everyone on a bi-weekly basis so progress can be monitored. Weight loss is a serious topic that Americans need to actively participate in. Many take surgery as a fix-all tool, but there comes life-long maintenance tools with it. Brooke and her family need to participate and make sure that she is successful or the medical consequences can be disastrous. Weight loss is literally a life or death situation that everyone, not just the patient, needs to actively participate in so everyone can benefit from the process.
