With the enactment of President Obama's landmark health care reform legislation, the
One of the hallmarks of a maturing profession is its commitment to effectively addressing society's pressing needs. Michelle Obama has generated a concerted focus on Childhood Obesity. The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity -- "The Childhood obesity epidemic in
The Task Force urged that developers of local school wellness policies be encouraged to include strong physical activity components, on par with nutrition components. Further, that social skill development should be actively encouraged and there should be an age- and developmentally- appropriate focus. The business community should be encouraged to consider which resources and physical assets (e.g., fields and gyms) can be used to increase students' access to outdoor and indoor recreational venues; while the entertainment and technology companies should be encouraged to develop new approaches for using technology to engage children in physical activity. These are all excellent suggestions for making a difference in the lives of our nation's families.
The Task Force pointed out that obese adults have an increased risk for many diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some forms of arthritis, and several cancers. Overweight and obese children are more likely to become obese adults. Obesity is a highly stigmatizing condition and in addition to the physical health consequences, severely obese children report a lower health-related quality of life (a measure of their physical, emotional, educational, and social well-being). Childhood obesity is also associated with some psychiatric disorders, including depression and binge-eating disorders, which may both contribute to, and be adversely impacted by obesity. U.S. Women's Olympic Soccer Team mental skills coach,
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recently called for developing a New Conceptual Framework to help obesity prevention researchers determine useful areas of study. "The real world is a complex system, and the many influences on the energy-balance equation are all interacting simultaneously. A systems perspective helps decision makers and researchers think broadly about this whole picture rather than merely studying the component parts in isolation. Such a perspective can help to frame, explain, and resolve complex problems such as obesity. It can lead to a better understanding of interactions, and highlights the importance of taking into account the context in which public health problems occur and how that context may affect the implementation and impact of interventions…. The United Kingdom Government Office of Science undertook an extensive evidence review that resulted in the characterization of obesity as a complex system involving seven major subsystems: individual psychology, biology, activity, food consumption, food production, activity environment, and societal influences. This map was then used to assess links and interactions among influences; simulate and consider possible future scenarios; and ultimately justify a comprehensive, cross-government, national action plan on obesity." "There is increasing recognition that overweight and obesity are not just problems of individuals, but also society wide problems that have serious health consequences and costs and affect some population groups more than others. Acting on this recognition will require multifaceted, population-based changes in the social and environmental factors that influence energy intake and expenditure."
We would rhetorically ask: Where is nursing's vision and collective voice in this evolving national agenda? A careful review of the White House Task Force report does not find any express mention of the potential contributions of our nation's Schools of Nursing or their students or graduates. And yet patient-centered, family-centered care is the hallmark of nursing care. In its 25 years of outstanding accomplishments, the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) has clearly demonstrated that nursing research, and especially patient-centered research, makes a significant difference in the lives of our nation's citizens. As healthcare continues to transform and the focus of care transitions from a disease and illness perspective to a health promotion and disease prevention strategy, Nurse Practitioners will play an increasingly important role in the provision of primary care. Over 200 Nurse-Managed Health Clinics are providing high quality care to vulnerable populations in medically underserved rural, suburban, and urban communities throughout the country. The challenge for Nurse-Managed Health Clinics will be to implement this knowledge and equally importantly, to ensure that those who shape our nation's health policies come to appreciate nursing's contributions. Therefore Nurse Practitioners must continue to lobby for federal and state recognition of the central role the profession can play in a revamped health system. Aloha,
Lt. Col. Corina Barrow, DoD Nurse Detailee
Natalie Bridgeman, Native Hawaiian Nurse Fellow
National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC) – September, 2010
