Obesity and its management (Nurses)

This course discusses the role nurses play in the primary prevention, screening, evaluation, treatment and ongoing monitoring of comorbidities in overweight and obese patients. Sustained behavioural change for these patients is predicated on a long-term, collaborative relationship between patient and doctor. Guides are included for eliciting the patient's level of change-motivation and offers a framework for structuring lifestyle counselling consultations.

The course identifies four pillars of management: patient education and health literacy, lifestyle modifications, medication and weight loss surgery. As a first-line therapy, education and lifestyle interventions including physical activity and diet form the foundation for change. Beyond these interventions, the adjunctive role of medications is also discussed. The pharmacodynamic effects, administration and monitoring of three TGA-approved medications are considered.

Bariatric surgery, the primary mechanism, the effectiveness and indications are also outlined. The course discusses the drivers of obesity and the nurses’s role in primary prevention through education and advocation.

This course is evidence-based, demonstrates best practice and is regularly updated.

Relevance to Nurses:

As 56.7% of Australian general practice consultations are with women, the gender-specific primary health needs of women constitute a significant proportion of the general practice workload.

The area of women’s health is broad and across the lifespan requires medical practitoners to develop and maintain skills in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy care and mental health, and in the recognition and provision of support to women who are victims of abuse and violence. (1)

A longitudinal study by an Australian university identified key health concerns for women related to the national and state strategies and confirmed the need for women’s health services.