Abstract:
In 2022, worldwide 2.5 billion people over the age of 18 were considered overweight and 890 million of them were considered obese (World Health Organization [WHO], 2024). To determine these diagnoses, a body mass index (BMI) must be obtained. BMI is calculated by obtaining a person’s weight and height and then dividing the weight in kilograms by the height in meters (WHO, 2024). A BMI greater than or equal to 25 is considered overweight. Whereas a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is considered obese (WHO, 2024). Since 1990, the worldwide obesity rate has doubled in adults (WHO, 2024). Statistics show that worldwide 43% of adults over 18 years of age were overweight and 16% of adults over 18 years of age were obese in 2022 (WHO, 2024). This means that in 2022, every 1 in 8 adults in the world was living with obesity (WHO, 2024). The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to standardize the identification and treatment of weight management in a primary care clinic (PCC) through the approval of a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG). Having a weight management CPG approved by an expert panel will provide the clinic with guidance using evidence-based practice (EBP) and current CPG recommendations and standardize the treatment plans amongst the providers and staff at the PCC. Obesity is a global problem that contributes to the diagnosis of diseases such as CVD and T2DM. Currently, the literature shows that there is a perceived deficit of use of evidence-based guidelines surrounding weight management in the primary care setting. The creation and approval of a CPG for weight management in a PCC will have positive impacts on primary care providers (PCPs), patients, as well as the economy.
