Obesity

Why emerging? During the past 20 years, America has seen a dramatic increase in obesity—one of every five residents is obese in most states.¹ Because obesity leads to many health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, a main initiative of Healthy People 2020 is nutrition and weight status.²

Get Involved! Simone Gill, PhD, OTR/L, became interested in occupational therapy's role with obesity 10 years ago when working with a 4-year-old child whose 120-pound weight hindered her from participating in childhood occupations. Gill began conducting research on how obesity affects occupational performance, with the goal of finding suggestions for occupational therapy intervention.

• AOTA Official Documents:
  • AOTA's Societal Statement on Obesity
  • AOTA's Position Paper on Obesity (member login required)
• OT Practice Articles:
  • Using AOTA's Obesity and Occupational Therapy Position Paper, by Debbie Amini, EdD, OTR/L, CHT, in March 25, 2013, OT Practice, p. 6.
  • Obesity and Occupational Therapy Practice by Letha J. Mosley, Janet S. Jedlicka, Elizabeth Lequieu, and Felicia D. Taylor in April 28, 2008, OT Practice.
  • Practice Perks: Obesity by Susanne Smith Roley in May 26, 2008, OT Practice.
  • Practice Perks: Obesity by Cindy Barrows in October 20, 2008, OT Practice.
  • Living Life To Its Fullest Podcasts: Obesity
• American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) Article:
  • Blanchard, S. A. (2009). Variables associated with obesity among African-American women in Omaha. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 58–68.

References:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, March 3). U.S. obesity trends: Trends by state 1985–2009. Retrieved March 17, 2011, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html
2. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2011). Healthy People 2020: Nutrition and weight status. Retrieved March 17, 2011, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=29

• Chronic Disease Management
• Prevention