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The use of technology is essential for tailoring effective health promotion messages and tackling health inequalities that unthread the social fabric of American society. By exploring interactive and engaging Internet platforms and communication channels, it is possible to achieve meaningful health behavior changes in a wide range of populations (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2014). This paper aims to discuss information on obesity presented on a website.
Discussion
An extensive online search has helped me to find an official website of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), which is a non-profit organization whose sole aim is to empower and support individuals with obesity ( About the OAC, n.d.). To this end, the organization raises awareness about the health condition, provides education to affected individuals, conducts media campaigns to eradicate weight bias, and improves access to prevention resources. Active efforts taken by the organization to remove obesity stigma are especially important since negative attitudes towards individuals affected by the condition decrease their motivation to adhere to a diet (Vartanian & Smyth, 2013). The website targets all individuals with obesity and their families. It contains many educational resources that can be used to improve the healthcare outcomes of the population. In addition to magazines, brochures, guides, fact sheets, and statistics, the website issues regular e-newsletters ( Educational resources, n.d.).
The epidemiological significance of obesity is emphasized by the OAC. The website indicates that the condition is caused by a confluence of genetic and environmental factors that are not always controlled by dieting ( What is obesity, n.d.). More than 93 million Americans are considered obese ( Obesity statistics, n.d.). The affected individuals are exposed to many diseases that include, but are not limited to, type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and hypertension. Therefore, nearly 112 000 individuals die each year from health problems associated with the condition ( Obesity statistics, n.d.). The cost of the obesity epidemic has been estimated at $117 billion, which puts a substantial strain on the national healthcare system ( Obesity statistics, n.d.). Approximately 9 million adolescents are overweight and, therefore, exposed to the risk of six or more health conditions ( Obesity statistics, n.d.). It follows that childhood obesity is a pressing health issue that has to be addressed by the medical community.
In a discussion of the link between binge eating disorder (BED) and obesity presented on the website, cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT) is mentioned as an effective form of obesity treatment (Wesely-Casella, n.d.). It has long been established that cognitive-behavioral interventions are effective in addressing the health problem. For example, a study conducted by Teixeira et al. (2015) points out that by targeting obesity-related behavior triggers, it is possible to develop self-regulation skills of affected adults.
I am interested in reaching adult males and females who are 18 years and older. The target population has BMI that exceeds 30 and does not have significant physical and cognitive limitations. The website contains a large body of resources that can be effectively used to tailor health promotion messages for the group of interest. Brochures and guides issued by the OAC can serve as informational underpinnings of the program. Specifically, the patient population can be educated on obesity-related health conditions and effective weight-loss approaches.
Conclusion
The paper has discussed the official OAC website that can be used to streamline health promotion efforts. Considering the changing context of modern disease prevention, it is essential to explore engaging resources presented on the website to develop multilevel interventions. The paper has helped me to understand better the importance of information technology in communicating health messages.
References
About the OAC. (n.d.).
Educational resources. (n.d.). Web.
Obesity statistics. (n.d.).
Pender, N. J., Murdaugh, C. L., & Parsons, M. A. (2014). Health promotion in nursing practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Teixeira, P. J., Carraca, E. V., Marques, M. M., Rutter, H., Oppert, J. M., Bourdeaudhuij, I.,& Brug, J. (2015). Successful behavior change in obesity interventions in adults: A systematic review of self-regulation mediators. BMC Medicine, 13, 84-89.
Vartanian, L. R., & Smyth, J. M. (2013). Primum non nocere: Obesity stigma and public health. Bioethical Inquiry, 10, 49-57.
Wesely-Casella, L. (n.d.). Binge eating disorder and obesity: The mechanics of the mind. Web.
What is obesity? (n.d.).
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