1
Evidence Synthesis: National Practice Problem Obesity
Student Name
Chamberlain University
NR-716
Dr. Tully
December 16, 2023
, 2
Evidence Synthesis: National Practice Problem Obesity
Epidemiological inquiry on the rising health crisis of obesity has shown that over 2
billion people, 30% of the global population, are overweight or obese today ([CDC], 2022). Data
compared from 1989 to 2015 has shown that obesity rates have increased across the board in
countries around the world and more than doubled in over 70 countries (Global Burden of
Disease, n.d.). The New England Journal of Medicine (2017), obesity collaborators in the Global
Burden of Disease (GBD) study, published that in 2015 4.0 million deaths and 120 million
disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide were attributed to high BMI (Mokdad et al.,
2018).
Research has shown that digital and electronic technology has shown promise in
leveraging increased activity and self-efficacy with respect to dietary and physical activity
interventions resulting in lowering BMI and maintaining sustained results (Bennett et al., 2018).
Use of an evidence-based intervention such as a digital app provides behavioral interventions
partnered with physical activity is shown to also increase patients' overall sense of well-being,
and provides a social support component to improve weight loss (Bennett et al., 2018, Leahey et
al. 2020, Staiano et al., 2018). Of note is that a recent systematic review of digital technology
for weight loss results revealed that counseling along with digital technology vs. digital
technology as a stand-alone intervention showed no difference in results (Patel et al., 2021).
The purpose of this paper is to provide a global, national, and local perspective on the
growing national practice problem of obesity and by using a synthesis of research and non-
research evidence present interventions that support the prevention and treatment of this health
crisis.
Evidence Synthesis: National Practice Problem Obesity
Student Name
Chamberlain University
NR-716
Dr. Tully
December 16, 2023
, 2
Evidence Synthesis: National Practice Problem Obesity
Epidemiological inquiry on the rising health crisis of obesity has shown that over 2
billion people, 30% of the global population, are overweight or obese today ([CDC], 2022). Data
compared from 1989 to 2015 has shown that obesity rates have increased across the board in
countries around the world and more than doubled in over 70 countries (Global Burden of
Disease, n.d.). The New England Journal of Medicine (2017), obesity collaborators in the Global
Burden of Disease (GBD) study, published that in 2015 4.0 million deaths and 120 million
disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide were attributed to high BMI (Mokdad et al.,
2018).
Research has shown that digital and electronic technology has shown promise in
leveraging increased activity and self-efficacy with respect to dietary and physical activity
interventions resulting in lowering BMI and maintaining sustained results (Bennett et al., 2018).
Use of an evidence-based intervention such as a digital app provides behavioral interventions
partnered with physical activity is shown to also increase patients' overall sense of well-being,
and provides a social support component to improve weight loss (Bennett et al., 2018, Leahey et
al. 2020, Staiano et al., 2018). Of note is that a recent systematic review of digital technology
for weight loss results revealed that counseling along with digital technology vs. digital
technology as a stand-alone intervention showed no difference in results (Patel et al., 2021).
The purpose of this paper is to provide a global, national, and local perspective on the
growing national practice problem of obesity and by using a synthesis of research and non-
research evidence present interventions that support the prevention and treatment of this health
crisis.
