Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Literature Review Of Societal Obesity And Its Impact On United States Military Recruitment, Megan Thibodeaux

Capstone

In recent decades, obesity rates have increased in the United States, raising significant health and societal concerns, especially in terms of military readiness. The ever-rising rates of weight-related health obstacles present a critical national security issue as it impacts the effectiveness of recruitment. This literature review aims to analyze how obesity impacts military recruitment and readiness to serve while utilizing the socio-ecological model to help determine gaps in evidence. Data was drawn from Embase, PubMed, and PsychInfo. Inclusion criteria consisted of academic journals and reports from government and non-profit organizations written in English. They focused only on the United States …

Longitudinal Trends In Body Mass Index And Risk Of Obesity Among Blue Cross & Blue Shield Of Nebraska Insured Sample Population During 2017-2022, Devi Venkata Naga Akshay Dwarabandam

Capstone Experience

Objective: To estimate and compare the longitudinal trends in the crude prevalence of obesity in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) sample of the adult population with the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) of Nebraska during the pre-pandemic period (2017-2019) and COVID-19 pandemic period (2020-2022) using standardization methods.

Background: Studying the obesity disease burden in a commercial insurance company's administrative claims data can provide critical insights that can inform policy, practice, and interventions aimed at improving health outcomes, managing costs, and reducing the burden of obesity at the population level.

Methods: This study utilized a cohort …

Weight Gain Trajectory Over Five Years For Adult Primary Care Patients In Nebraska, Elizabeth M. Morris

Capstone Experience

INTRODUCTION: The continued rise in the prevalence of adult obesity in the United States is a public health concern. Several studies have identified the increasing rates of obesity, its impacts, and the factors leading to obesity. Some researchers have made obesity prevalence projections at the national and state levels. This study aims to fill the critical gap in real-time weight data trends among primary care adult patients in Nebraska. The main goal of this study is to determine and analyze the weight trajectory of adults in Nebraska over the past five years and determine if the trends vary among age …

The Impact Of Obesity On Covid-19 Outcomes In A High-Risk, Majority Hispanic Community Sample, Maxwell A. Lawlor

Capstone Experience

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused over 33.7 million cases and 605,000 deaths in the United States¹. Factors associated with increased odds for hospitalization, death, and other poor outcomes include age, comorbid conditions like cardiovascular disease and lung disease, and obesity. COVID-19 has also disproportionately affected Hispanic communities across the United States and in Omaha. Potential explanations for this disparity include social determinants of health, particularly occupational factors, structural challenges to access healthcare services, and increased medical comorbidities including obesity. In this retrospective cohort study, we used patient data from April to May 2020 (N=1,000) …

Identifying, Adapting, And Implementing A Weight Management Program In Rural Primary Care, Gwenndolyn Porter

Theses & Dissertations

Rural adults are at heightened risk for obesity, yet evidence‐based interventions lack consistent translation into clinical practice. This multi-phase study addresses this gap. First, a systematic review and meta-analysis of rural adult weight loss interventions were conducted to assess overall impact. Though few studies reported participant representativeness, meta‐analyses revealed a significant weight reduction among interventions. Second, 10 focus groups were conducted with primary care (PC) staff to determine the feasibility of implementing a weight-management program through PC. Differences in responses among rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan was also assessed. Thematic analyses revealed rural PC currently lacks the capacity to manage patient …