Obesity

Overview   
Symptoms   
Treatment   
Products   
Resources

Obesity is a chronic disease that affects almost one-third of all Americans, children and adults. It is the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths, yet due to social discrimination research, insurance and healthcare are severely limited. Obesity is also a leading cause for breast, colon, cervix, ovary and prostate cancer; diabetes Type II; gallstones; high blood pressure and cholesterol; heart disease; osteoarthritis; and stroke.

The two primary causes for being obese are overeating and inactivity. Americans eat too much and are not active enough. The extra fat accumulated in our bodies is the result of extra calories that are stored instead of burned up. Obesity is also affected by family (genetic history), metabolism, race and age.

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Defining Obesity

Healthcare professionals use the Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine whether or not a person is overweight or obese. This formula calculates the total body fat by dividing a person’s body weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. Or take your weight in pounds, divide that number by your height in inches squared, and multiply the result by 703. Easier yet, simply use one of the BMI calculators online (see the Resources section).

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Obesity Treatment

Losing weight is the one means of overcoming obesity. Weight loss also improves the related health conditions by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels and decreasing the risk of cancer and diabetes.

To lose and manage your weight, healthcare professionals recommend a number of therapies:

• Dietary Therapy involves reducing a person’s calorie intake through dietary adjustments.
• Physical Therapy is a daily regimen of physical activity that results in weight loss. Behavior therapy promotes weight loss and management through changing both diet and daily physical activities.
• Drug Therapy utilizes prescription drugs for weight loss and maintenance.
• Obesity Surgery is used for long-term weight control to limit the amount of food that can be eaten by reducing the stomach and/or intestines.

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Bariatric Products

Bariatric Homecare Bedroom:

Bariatric Homecare Bedroom products are specially designed to accommodate heavier patients and help to improve the patient’s daily quality of life. These include:

• Hospital Beds in semi-electric or full electric versions allow the patient to separately raise or lower the head and feet and are often outfitted with bedrails to prevent accidental falls.
• Bed Accessories include egg crate mattresses, low air loss and gel mattresses to help prevent and reduce bedsores for patients who spend a great amount of time in their beds.
• Over-Bed Tables are similar to those used in the hospital for eating and reading in bed. They are available in flat or tilting models which aid in reading.
• Bedside Commodes are stand-alone toilet seats with a removable pail for people who are unable to walk to the bathroom. They can also be easily converted to a raised toilet seat to be used directly over the toilet.
• Patient Lifts and Slings assist in transferring patients from their beds to a wheelchair, bedside commode or bedside chairs. They are available in manual and fully electric models and accommodate all weight capacities.
• Trapeze Bars hang over a patient’s bed and assist them in lifting themselves to a sitting position or to change positions in bed.
• Lift Chairs come in numerous styles, fabric grades and colors and assist patients with difficulty getting up from a chair but activating an electric chair that causes the chair to raise the patient to a standing position. All lift chairs also partially or fully recline with an elevated leg rest.
• Safety Polls and Rails offer stability when rising or sitting as well as from accidental falls in the bed or bathroom.

Bariatric Mobility Products:

Bariatric Mobility products are specially designed to accommodate heavier patients and help to improve the patient’s daily quality of life. These include:

• Canes are used by people who are independent enough to use a one-handed walking aid. They have fairly good balance and just need the added stability and support that a cane provides. Canes are used in the hand that is on the opposite side of the body that is weaker or injured. They are available in numerous sizes, handles and styles. Aside from the traditional “umbrella” handle, ergonomic and orthopedic grip handles are now available. Wood canes are sized by cutting with a saw. Aluminum canes are adjusted by using a spring button.
• Quad Canes have a base with four points of contact on the floor to provide extra stability and support for people when walking. They are available with a small or large base and their size is selected according to the amount of support needed by the person.
• Forearm Crutches are used by people who have long-term or permanent mobility problems. The cuffs on the top of the crutches wrap around the forearms while the orthopedic handles are gripped below. The height is adjustable at the base with a spring button, and they are available in adult and child sizes.
• Walkers help people remain mobile by providing stability and support while walking. They transfer most of the weight and work from the user’s legs and feet to their arms and hands. Walkers are available in rigid and folding models, plus a variety of accessories are available such as wheels, baskets, pouches, backpacks, glide brakes, seats, trays and glass holders.
• Rollators are walkers with wheels and brakes to eliminate having to lift the walker to walk. They feature small or large wheels for indoor and outdoor use, respectively. Brakes offer extra security when going down inclines. The walkers fold for transport and many have seats so users can sit and rest when they get tired.
• Manual Wheelchairs are no longer “one size fits all” and are available in a variety of styles and sizes. The standard basic wheelchair folds easily for transport, has locking wheels, detachable foot rests that swing-away for transferring, footplates, elevating leg rests and arm rests that are either permanent full length or removable desk length. Optional features include reclining backs, adjustable seat length, hemi or low seat frames, articulating footrests, solid tires and anti-tipping devices.
• Transport or Companion Wheelchairs are popular with caregivers because they have four small wheels for convenience when transporting the chair in a car or other form of transportation. They are available in very lightweight models and are designed to be pushed by the caregiver.
• Lightweight Wheelchairs are also popular with end-users as they weigh so much less than standard chairs and are easier to self-propel. They are preferred for outdoor usage and wheelchair sports.
• Power Wheelchairs are motorized wheelchairs that are controlled by either a joy stick or a puff mechanism. These are primarily used by quadriplegics or people with medical conditions who are extremely weak and cannot push themselves in a manual wheelchair.
• Scooters or Personal Mobility Vehicles (PMV’s) provide motorized transportation for individuals who either need or prefer power mobility. Scooters can be used indoors and outdoors and are available in both front-wheel and rear-wheel drive models. They also come in lightweight models that break down into smaller parts for easier transport.

Compression:

Bariatric Vascular Stockings

Incontinence:

There are Incontinence Products that are specially designed to accommodate heavier patients and help to improve the patient’s daily quality of life. These include:

Disposables:

• Pads and Shields are for small loss of urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing, straining or pregnant. Usually this light incontinence is only a daytime problem.
• Guards are for temporary or long-term loss of bladder control after surgery, or when someone is unable to prevent urine leakage after feeling a strong urge to urinate. Leakage often occurs on the way to the bathroom.
• Undergarments are for frequent leakage usually of small amounts of urine, or for moderate loss of urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing or straining. Often this moderate incontinence is only a daytime problem.
• Briefs are for heavy or continuous urine leakage or heavy leakage at night or when lying down.

Reusable Systems

• Undergarments and Briefs are washable protective underwear that are made to use with liners and pads or by themselves.
• Liners and Pads fit into the above washable undergarments and are either reusable/washable for light incontinence or disposable for moderate to heavy incontinence.

Urologicals

• Catheters are available for permanent loss of urine control. They are available as either external or internal devices.
• Urine Collection Devices include leg bags and overnight bags that hang from the bed.

Related Incontinence Products

• Underpads are flat pads filled with absorbent materials and covered with waterproof backing. They are designed to protect bedding and furniture. Available in disposable and reusable options, various sizes and different absorbencies
• Skin Care is a concern for people with incontinence because they are prone to skin breakdown, especially when continuous washing with regular alkaline soap dries out the skin. Skin care products protect, soothe and replenish the skin. Antibacterial and anti-fungal products eliminate germs, yeast, bacteria and fungi.
  • Cleansers cleanse and remove urine and fecal material. They are available in no-rinse and deodorizing formulas.
  • Barriers and Skin Protectants protect skin from further exposure and irritation by creating moisture and antimicrobial, antifungal barriers on affected areas.
  • Moisturizers and Creams replenish moisture to skin that is dried out or irritated by incontinence.
  • Deodorizers eliminate odor as well as deodorize.
  • Rinseless Shampoos, foot cleansers and shaving gels are also available.
• Accessories include washcloths, air fresheners, powders and ointments.

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Obesity Resources

American Obesity Association
202-776-7711
www.obesity.org

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center (NHLBI)
800 575-9355
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity

NHLBI's BMI Calculator
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm

The National Women’s Health Information Center
(Office of Women’s Health, Dept. Of Health and Human Services)
800 994-WOMAN
www.4woman.gov/faq/obesity

The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/default.htm

MEDLINE
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesity.html



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