Obesity and Healthy Obesity and Healthy OccupationOccupation

CAOT Professional Issue ForumCAOT Professional Issue ForumJune 14, 2008June 14, 2008

Mary Forhan, PhD candidateMary Forhan, PhD candidateMcMaster University, Hamilton ONMcMaster University, Hamilton ON

Meeting ObjectivesMeeting Objectives► Understand the health status, cultural, social Understand the health status, cultural, social

and political issues related to obesity and and political issues related to obesity and opportunities for healthy occupationopportunities for healthy occupation

► Understand the impact of limited access to Understand the impact of limited access to occupational therapy services for occupational therapy services for populations with obesity issuespopulations with obesity issues

► Identify issues that impede access to Identify issues that impede access to occupational therapy servicesoccupational therapy services

► Identify strategies to facilitate access to Identify strategies to facilitate access to opportunities for participation in healthy opportunities for participation in healthy occupationsoccupations

► Inform the development of a position Inform the development of a position statement and strategic plan to improve statement and strategic plan to improve access to occupational therapy services for access to occupational therapy services for populations with obesity issuespopulations with obesity issues

Functional ImplicationsFunctional Implications

►Limited mobilityLimited mobility

►FatigueFatigue

►Decreased range of motion Decreased range of motion

►ADL limitationsADL limitations

Implications for Occupational Implications for Occupational

PerformancePerformance Self-careSelf-care ProductivityProductivity LeisureLeisure

►Mobility in Mobility in home and home and communitycommunity►Challenges Challenges with personal with personal carecare►Decrease Decrease stamina for stamina for meal prep & meal prep & physical physical activityactivity

►Increased Increased disability daysdisability days►Hiring biasHiring bias►Education Education biasbias►Reports of Reports of challenges for challenges for caregiving, caregiving, household household choreschores

►Social Social isolationisolation►Limited Limited access to access to recreation recreation environmentsenvironments

Sources of influence on Sources of influence on occupational performanceoccupational performance

►PersonalPersonal►Social Social ►EnvironmentEnvironment►PoliticalPolitical►MediaMedia

Opportunities for healthy Opportunities for healthy occupationoccupation

►Prevention Initiatives that promote Prevention Initiatives that promote healthy eating and active livinghealthy eating and active living

►Evidence based obesity treatmentEvidence based obesity treatment

Prevention Strategies-Healthy eating & active living guides-ParticipACTION-Child fitness credits-Access to food and recreation

Public Opinion

Access to Evidence

Political Environment

Factors that drive prevention strategies

Access to OT servicesAccess to OT services Type of ServiceType of Service OT RoleOT Role SettingSetting

Health Health PromotionPromotion

ConsultantConsultant

EducatorEducator

AdvocateAdvocate

ResearcherResearcher

Out-patientOut-patient

In-patientIn-patient

CommunityCommunity

SchoolSchool

Post-secondaryPost-secondary

IndustryIndustry

Obesity Obesity TreatmentTreatment

ConsultantConsultant

EducatorEducator

AdvocateAdvocate

ResearcherResearcher

Out-patientOut-patient

In-patientIn-patient

Private sectorPrivate sector

CommunityCommunity

IndustryIndustry

Issues that impede access to OT Issues that impede access to OT servicesservices

►Limited knowledge about obesity by Limited knowledge about obesity by OTsOTs

►Lack of awareness of potential of OT Lack of awareness of potential of OT contributions to prevention, treatment contributions to prevention, treatment and management of obesityand management of obesity

►Limited value to supporting obese Limited value to supporting obese persons to participate in occupationspersons to participate in occupations

►Funding for OT not identified on team Funding for OT not identified on team grants to include OT grants to include OT

CompensationWork around the obesity-use technology-use mechanics-modify treatment approaches-gather supports

RemediationReduce or eliminate obesity-participate in evidence based weight Loss strategies

AdaptationTo the built environment-room configurations-transportation-places where we work, play, learn and live

AdvocacyFor the rights of obese persons-enable occupation-to be included in research-access to evidence based treatment

Interventions

Contributions of OT for Obesity

Occupational therapy is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and wellbeing; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the dailyoccupations of life.

Ref. Polatajko, Davis, Stewart, Cantin, Amoroso et al., 2007 p. 27

Positioning occupational therapy and obesity