Lynn Simon & Natalie Romenesko

ESC 100 Introduction to Exercise Science

HOMEWORK: Obesity in Healthcare
Directions: This homework assignment is completed individually. Answers must be computer
generated and all pages stapled together for full credit.
1) Go to http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/index.html. Click on Facts and then read over the
facts on both adult and childhood obesity. Identify 4 different facts for each group, such as
obesity rates, which subpopulations (or sectors) are at greater risk, etc.
Adult obesity
1. Estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U. S. was $14 billion in 08. Medical
costs for people who are obese were $1,429 highr than those of normal weight.
2. Higher income women are less likely to have obesity than low income women
3. More than 1/3 of US adults are obese
4. There is no relativenes between obesity and education among men. With women,
there is a trend that those with college degrees are less likely to have obesity
compared to those with less education.
Childhood obesity
1. Approximately 17% (or 12.7 million) of children and adolescents aged 219 years
are obese
2. In 2011-2012, the prevalence among children and adolescents was higher among
Hispanics (22.4%) and non-Hispanic blacks (20.2%) than among non-Hispanic whites
(14.1%).
3. Over time, the prevalence of obesity among girls whose adult head of household had
not finished high school increased from 17% (19992002) to 23% (20072010), but
decreased for girls whose adult head of household completed college from 11%
(19992002) to 7% (20072010). There was not a similar finding among boys.
4. From 2003 through 2010, the prevalence of obesity decreased slightly from 15.21% to
14.94%. Similarly, the prevalence of extreme obesity decreased from 2.22% to 2.07%.

2) Do some research on your own and determine how obesity affects healthcare costs in the
US.

Identify three negative outcomes associated with obesity that increase healthcare costs in the
U.S.
1. By 2010, the federal government was spending almost $800 billion on Medicare and
Medicaid (28.6 percent of expenditures).
http://www.fairfoodnetwork.org/connect/blog/obesity-and-rising-cost-healthcareamerica
2. Costs for patients presenting at emergency rooms with chest pains are 41 percent
higher for severely obese patients, 28 percent higher for obese patients and 22
percent higher for overweight patients than for healthy- weight patients.
http://stateofobesity.org/healthcare-costs-obesity/
3. Full-time workers in the U.S. who are overweight or obese and have other chronic
health conditions miss an estimated 450 million additional days of work each year
compared with healthy workers-- resulting in an estimated cost of more than $153
billion in lost productivity annually, according to a 2011 Gallup Poll.
http://www.obesitycampaign.org/obesity_facts.asp

3) Do some research on your own and determine what work-related injuries you might
sustain if you are an overweight or unfit healthcare provider.
Identify at least 3 different common workplace injuries that are often related to being
overweight and/or unfit with your supporting evidence/documentation.
1. Research indicates that up to 915 of physical therapists experience work-related
musculoskeletal disroders (WMSDs) and pain. http://ajot.aota.org/article.aspx?
articleid=1865848
2. Direct and indirect costs associated with back injuries in the healthcare industry are
estimated to be $20 billion annually.4Additionally, nursing aides and orderlies suffer the
highest prevalence (18.8%) and report the most annual cases (269,000) of workrelated back pain among female workers in the United States.
http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2008/09/22/lifting/
3. Nurses are 60% more likely to report chronic soreness and pain especially in the feet.

4) Are there other ways that being overweight or unfit might affect your job as a healthcare
provider? Identify at least two related issues.
1. Loss of productiity due to obesity full time workers cost the US 73.1 billion each year.
http://www.obesitycampaign.org/obesity_facts.asp

2. The odds of being abscent from work is four times higher when the person is obese.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3047996/
3. It costs an estimated 45 million dollars a year for private companies having obese
employees for insurances and leave of absences.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3047996/

5) If you are going to treat people using exercise interventions, do you have a social and/or
ethical responsibility to walk the talk and model an active lifestyle?
Briefly explain at least two ethical considerations should be considered.

Credibility- Being physically fit or walking the talk will give the quality of being trusted.
Clients will respect and admire what we have to say and admire us for the knowledge we are
presenting to them. Our clients will believe in us that we are here to improve their well-being
because we look as though we are knowledgeable about our area of study. Therefore, if they
see it is possible, they will believe our information.
Empathy- With being physically fit, it is easily to understand what the patient is going through
with the treatments we would be putting them through because we didnt go through the
same workouts, but had to do vigorous workouts to become physically fit. So with empathy,
we will be able to relate and share a common bond with each other and create a more
personal relationship. This will allow the patient to believe it is possible through our own
success story. An example is that we may not be able to touch our toes right now, but for our
undergraduate degree we had to work to accomplish it. Therefore, we can tell the patient that
we had to go through something similar and it is possible.
http://www.nurseuncut.com.au/top-nursing-injuries-and-how-to-avoid-them/
6) Pick two of the following career fields and identify physical requirements/demands of that
job (these demands should be based on job descriptions and responsibilities):
[Athletic training, physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, clinical exercise
physiologist, recreational therapist and occupational therapist]
Athletic Training

Transporting injured athletes from the field.

Carrying heavy 10-gallon water containers.

Carrying heavy medical kits.

Completing physical testing procedures of muscles and ligaments to all body joints,

etc.

Completing all taping procedures in a reasonable amount of time.

Running across uneven field surfaces in a reasonable amount of time to care for
emergency situations.

Assist in lifting injured athletes and carrying said athlete for a short distance so they
are out of harms way.

Be able to perform CPR and First Aid procedures

http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/Departments/HealthandSportSciences/MajorsMin
ors/AthleticTraining/Technical.aspx
Physical therapist
Stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists move
heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.
http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/career/70/physical_therapist