Obesity and Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Obesity is a significant and wide-ranging health and social problem in the United States. Occupational therapy is a health care profession that is qualified to provide interventions with individuals, groups, and society to effect change to promote optimum health. Occupational therapy services often are used directly and indirectly to influence weight management and related health concerns through attention to healthy lifestyle choices and engagement in fulfilling occupations. The purpose of this paper is to explain the position of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) to persons within and outside the profession on the role of occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants 1 in addressing the impact of obesity on people's ability to engage in daily activities.

Understanding occupational engagement for individuals with bariatric needs: The perspectives of Australian Occupational Therapists

“…Occupational therapists' expertise and scope of practice with the use of assistive technology provides further opportunities to support meaningful engagement in everyday activities. Literature demonstrates the role that assistive technologies, mobility devices and smart technology have with enabling individuals with health conditions participate in everyday activities (Reingold & Jordan, 2013).…”

“…Conversely, occupational disengagement influences an individual's ability to perform competently in daily life, resulting in the deterioration of their mental health (Baum & Law, 1997). As a result of this occupational disengagement, there is an increasing requirement for occupational therapists working with people who have bariatric needs to effectively enable participation in everyday occupations meaningful to the individual (Reingold & Jordan, 2013).…”

“…In order to identify how occupational therapists can encourage and promote the value of participation for people with bariatric needs, the experience of working with these individuals must be explored and understood (Thomas et al, 2008). Occupational therapists assist to promote effective change which may lead to improvements in engagement and participation and increased quality of life for people with bariatric needs (Isaksson, Lexell, & Skar, 2009;Reingold & Jordan, 2013). Thus, gaining an understanding of occupational therapists' lived experience of working in this scope of practice provides a useful insight into their day-to-day work, and enhances the current knowledge regarding the relationship between the individuals they work with, their environment and desired occupations.…”

Anti-Fat Bias of Occupational Therapy Students

“…This is especially true as occupational therapy is increasing its presence in primary care settings (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014b). Moreover, the American Occupational Therapy Commission on Practice supports the role of occupational therapy in working with people who are fat (Reingold & Jordan, 2013). Evidence supporting the value of occupational therapy intervention with clients with chronic conditions lays in increasing successful management of healthy routines, overcoming barriers to role participation and increasing clients' quality of life, despite minimal to no changes in the disease itself (Clark et al, 2015).…”