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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
05:10
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Overweight and obesity in nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nurse educators
Sally K Miller1, Patricia T Alpert, Chad L Cross
1Department of Physiologic Nursing, UNLV School of Nursing, UNLV School of Public Health, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-3018, USA. Sally.Miller@unlv.edu
Summary
Nearly 54% of nurses are overweight or obese, yet many lack motivation for lifestyle changes. Education on obesity risks and sensitive patient communication is recommended for nurses.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Research
- Public Health
- Obesity Studies
Background:
- Overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns.
- Healthcare professionals, including nurses, play a crucial role in patient education and health promotion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among nursing professionals.
- To evaluate nurses' understanding of obesity and its associated health risks.
Main Methods:
- A mailed survey was distributed to 4980 registered nurses across six geographic regions.
- A response rate of 15.5% (n=760) was achieved, with descriptive statistics and frequency counts used for analysis.
Main Results:
- The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 27.2, with 54% of nurses classified as overweight or obese.
- Despite recognizing obesity as a diagnosis, 76% of nurses do not discuss it with overweight or obese patients.
- Many nurses report a lack of motivation or inability to lose weight despite healthy habits.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of nurses are overweight or obese, highlighting a need for targeted interventions and continuing education.
- Nurses may require further training on addressing obesity with patients and discussing sensitive health topics.
- Nurse practitioners are identified as key educators for both patients and registered nurses regarding obesity management.
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