In each issue we investigate a hot topic currently affecting you and your community practice. Here, we ask Can Community nurses take on obesity?
A six-week community wellness programme was conducted to promote weight loss and reduce obesity. Participants’ weight, blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, and finger-stick glucose were measured before and after the programme which included exercise, nutrition and diabetes prevention sessions. Initially, 189 men and women enrolled; 74 participants were included in the post-intervention data collection. Statistically significant results (p <0.001) indicated that women reduced weight (mean 3.31% ± 0.02%) and decreased waist circumference by 1.91552% ± 2.14454 inches. Men reduced weight significantly (mean 6.5% ± 0.44%) and decreased waist circumference (mean 3.14063 ± 3.04118 inches) (p<.001).
Jenny Manry, DNP, FNP, APRN-BC, Assistant Professor, Fort Hays State University
Jane Peterson, PhD, APRN, FAANP, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Missouri Kansas City
Article accepted for publication: February 2013
Statistics suggest that one-in-four adults are obese, and up to 33% of school-aged children are overweight or obese (National Obesity Forum, 2015). Thus, on a daily basis, it is likely that general practice nurses (GPNs) will engage in consultations with patients who are overweight or obese, quite often while presenting for advice for another condition. This article explores how to broach this sensitive issue and the nurse’s role to reduce weight stigma in line with the new Nursing and Midwifery Council Code (NMC, 2015). Practical advice to support patients in managing their weight, and identifying appropriate onward referrals, including for bariatric surgery and eating disorders, will also be discussed.
In each issue of the Journal of Community Nursing we investigate a hot topic currently affecting our readers. In this issue, as we face an obesity epidemic and growing lifestyle-related conditions such as diabetes, JCN takes a look at the community nurses’ role in health prevention and asks the question...
Sandra Drummond unravels the mysteries of the diabetic diet
Dr Sandra Drummond Lecturer in Human Nutrition and Public Health Nutrition, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh. Article accepted for publication: April 2003
Teresa Burdett and Clare Wong give an overview of a community based initiative. Teresa Burdett RGN, RMN, DPSN, BSc, RHV, MSC is a Lifestyle Practitioner Smokestop Tutor, Walking for Health Accredited Leader and Health Visitor in Poole, Dorset.
Clare Wong RGN, BSc, RHV is a Smokestop Tutor, Walking for Health Accredited Leader and Health Visitor in Poole, Dorset. Article accepted for publication: March 2004
Dr Hannah Theobald discusses recent guidelines for optimum childhood nutrition.
Dr Hannah Theobald PhD, BSc, RPHNutr
Article accepted for publication: January 2007
Runner-up in our “Excellence in Practice” awards Teresa Davies discusses the need for community teams to undertake an active role in the fight against obesity
Teresa Davies BN (Hons), RGN is a Community Nurse, Corwen and Llangollen District Nurses, Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust
Dianne Burns, John Costello, Monica Haggart, Joanne Kerr, Keith Longshaw & Ruth Thornton consider the complexity of obesity and its health implications, highlighting its implications for community practitioners.
Dianne Burns RGN, BSc (Hons), MSc is a Lecturer in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner.
John Costello PhD, RN is a Senior Lecturer in Nursing.
Monica Haggart RGN, RM, RHV, BSc, MSc is a Lecturer in Health Visiting.
Joanne Kerr RGN, RHV, RNT MSc is a Lecturer in Nursing.
Keith Longshaw RN, RNT, BA is a Lecturer in Nursing.
Ruth Thornton RN, BSc, MA is Clinical Lead Active Case Management/Older People, Manchester Primary Care Trust.
Authors work at the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work, University of Manchester.
Article accepted for publication: April 2009
