Sign in
Obesity affects well over two thirds of the American population, thus posing a critical public health challenge for the United States. People suffering from obesity are at an elevated risk of contracting diabetes, certain forms of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, being overweight attracts a substantial economic toll to an individual. Within the United States, obesity is responsible for close to 10% of the overall national healthcare expenditure. A further 42% of the overall healthcare cost has been spent in managing diseases for which are directly attributed to obesity (Smolin & Grosvenor, 2010). According to Bachman and other authors, the estimates of improved healthcare costs for obese patients outweighed the healthcare costs for normal patients. This paper shall review the article on the incremental value of medical nutrition therapy in weight management.
The benefits linked to weight reduction have been clearly outlined in this paper. Through a review conducted by Mcfarlen & Bakris (2010) there was a revelation that when individuals suffering from type 2 of diabetes and hypertension experienced exponential weight loss it was accompanied with positive health benefits (McFarlane & Bakris, 2010). The program coined as The Diabetes Prevention Program validated that lifestyle intercession is responsible for the reduction of the possibility of contracting diabetes by up to 58% in individuals who have reduced glucose tolerance. Individuals with the type 2 diabetes lost well over 6% of their body weight thus having a significant improvement in their glycosylated hemoglobin values in a span of one year.
Even though the pandemic of obesity has been recognized worldwide and its benefits have been experienced, its treatment remains unreliable. Various studies conducted by different researchers reveal that exercise and diet are important elements towards achieving weight-loss. With regard to the aforementioned statement, a simple 30 minutes light physical work-out aids in reducing the incidences of contracting type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (McFarlane & Bakris, 2010). Even though there has been issuance of recommendations for dietary counseling by the United States Preventive Service Task Force, there is lack of a fundamental benefit offering in the form of effective health plans provided through nutritional counseling by a registered dietician (USPSTF).
The USPSTF recommends a physician who possesses the skills should be present to provide nutritional counseling to their obese patients. It is worth noting that the successful adoption of medical nutritional therapy cover as a component of the member-health partnership program in obesity related cases serves as the best innovation in healthcare management. This program can be offered to people who suffer from obesity or conditions related to obesity, for example diabetes.
The benefit accrued from the managed care plan is that the patients suffering from obesity are able to maintain or lose their weight thus leading a healthy lifestyle. The successful implementation of the aforementioned program further helps in curbing the concern of obesity in the United States. With strict regard to the providers, the successful implementation assists them in monitoring and keeping correct records of the disease in the country. By doing so, the country can effectively tabulate its national healthcare cost issued to combat the pandemic (Laliberte & Taylor, 2009).
Although the issue on obesity and the value of medical nutritional therapy has been effectively tackled, there is stillroom for improvement on the consistency and content of medical nutritional therapy. An organization referred to as the American Dietetic Association has been established in order to provide guidelines for the medical nutritional therapy program. The only negative aspect that needs further improvement on this domain is the requirement to conduct further research on evaluation of adherence to principles of the society settings and evaluation of the medical nutritional therapy that is most beneficial.
I firmly concur that the results exhibited by medical nutritional therapy pose as valuable aid to various health management programs, which can be undertaken at a low cost. It comes as a guarantee that medical nutritional therapy offers an average addition in health benefit plans.
References
Laliberte, M., McCabe, R. E., & Taylor, V. (2009). The cognitive behavioral workbook for weight management: A step-by-step program. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
McFarlane, S. I., & Bakris, G. L. (2010). Diabetes and hypertension: Evaluation and management. Totowa, N.J: Humana.
Smolin, L. A., & Grosvenor, M. B. (2010). Nutrition and weight management. New York: Chelsea House.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH GRADE VALLEY TODAY AND GET AN AMAZING DISCOUNT
