Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Stoerm S. Anderson

Abstract

Obesity is a crucial health care issue that has a global effect on the health care industry. Not only does obesity decrease the patients' quality of life, it also places an astronomical burden on health care delivery systems. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to establish a weight management program derived from evidence-based research. The research question is can the utilization of mindfulness meditations and practices with traditional weight loss methodologies produce sustainable weight loss? Pender's health belief model was the conceptual framework utilized to guide and provides structure for this project. The health belief model has been utilized in numerous health care studies and has provided researchers with tremendous insight on various health care issues. The goal of the project was to provide the inhabitants in a metropolitan city located in the Midwest region of the United States with weight management strategies that would support a declination in the number of patients struggling with obesity in that region. This project developed a turnkey solution to a community health problem consisting of the following strategies: executing mindfulness meditations and practices as part of their daily rituals, reading food labels and making healthier food selections, exercising 30 to 40 minutes a day, and documenting their progression or obstacles in a journal. Since the project consisted of only 20 participants, it is recommended that a larger population and region be utilized for future studies. This project has the potential for societal change by improving the quality of life of and productivity of patients struggling with obesity by decreasing their chances of developing chronic illnesses which can become debilitating.

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