Acquisition of Healthy Habits Paper Example

Introduction

Health promotion refers to all activities that are aimed at informing and assisting people to have more control over their physical and mental health. It is important to note that health promotion is a process that evolves through several stages to success. During the entire period of acquiring new behaviour, Pender's Health Promotion Model was used as a conceptual framework for explaining and predicting health promotion behaviours for achieving healthy bod weight and overcoming being overweight. This health promotion model notes the interaction between a person, their environment, nursing, health, and illness (Khodaveisi, Omidi, Farokhi, & Saltonian, 2017). These scholars have noted that recent changes in living standards have made people more susceptible to being overweight and obese (Khodaveisi et al., 2017). In their study, these scholars applied Pender's Health Promotion Model to treat obese and overweight women in West Iran in 2015 (Khodaveisi et al, 2017). I am working with my mentor nurse in applying this model in conjunction with the Trans theoretical model stages of change to treat my overweight condition after my mentor nurse noted that my weight had surpassed the healthy BMI limit making me overweight. Because my mentor is a practising nurse, the Pender's Health Promotion Model and Trans theoretical stages model of health change were applied in my situation within the context of the nursing process. From my experience, the Trans theoretical stages model of health change when used together with Pender's Health Promotion Model are effective in assisting patients to acquire health habits to overcome overweight conditions and obesity.

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Assessment and Planning

The Nursing Process was used in the diagnosis and treatment of my condition from the moment that my nurse notified me of my condition. An assessment of my body mass and height revealed that I was overweight and was headed for obesity. An overweight individual has a body mass index (BMI) that exceeds 25, but is less than 30 (Canadian Diabetes Association, 2018). Individuals with BMIs greater than 30 are referred to as obese (Canadian Diabetes Association, 2018). During assessment, my nurse weighed me and informed me that I weighed 85 kilograms. Because I weigh 85 kilograms and I am 1.7m tall, my BMI is

BMI = Body mass in kilograms / (height in m) 2

BMI= 85KG/ 1.72

BMI= 29.4

I am overweight because my BMI is higher than 25 but is less than 30 (Canadian Diabetes Association, 2018).

A Health Risk Assessment (HRA) is an evaluation and an instructive tool that demonstrate the danger of contracting an illness (Kozier, 2018). The HRA indicated that my consumption of fast foods at the time coupled with no exercise were the main risk factors to my weight. Also, Health Risk Assessment indicated that I had to replace fast foods with fruits, vegetables, and moderate sugars as well as starting a regular exercise regimen.

At this stage, there was collaboration between me and my nurse that there were two expected outcomes; consumption of healthy foods and exercising regularly to achieve a body mass of 70kg and BMI of 24. Therefore, my nurse and I applied Pender's Health Promotion Model to plan a behaviour change plan that was in line with my needs. The plan reinforced my strengths of being independent and motivated towards accomplishing goals. It also took note of the potential barriers in my plan such as being incredibly busy and considering that fruits and vegetables are expensive. Also, at the planning stage, we formulated a one year plan that ensured my full recovery from being overweight.

Implementation

The Trans theoretical model of health change outlines the six stages through which a person passes through before making permanent changes in behaviour; precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination (Mastellos et al., 2014). This model assumes that most people are unwilling to alter their behaviour and hence cannot be helped by traditional action-oriented prevention programs (Mastellos et al, 2018). This assumption applies in my situation because I had tried to quit my habit of eating fast foods so many times despite the negative effect of such a diet on my weight and health. At this stage, I only focused on the pros of my unhealthy habits despite their cumulative negative effect on my health. The second assumption of the Trans theoretical model is that changes in behaviour are complex and usually unfold through stages.

At the precontemplation stage, the individual is not willing to change any time in the near future, which is approximated at 6 months (Vallis et al, 2003). In my teenage years, I did not mind about my eating habits and health because there was no one in my closer circle to sensitize me on the dangers of such a lifestyle on my body weight, BMI, and health in general. At this time, I was a heavy consumer of fast foods and sugared beverages because they are cheaper, are more available, and do not require much time intake to prepare. On the other hand, health foods such as fruits and vegetables required me to go to great lengths to find them and are more expensive. Also, at this time I had never seriously considered a regular exercise regimen. I considered regular exercising as a waste of time because I thought I needed more time for my studies.

At the contemplation stage, the patient is not yet willing to take action during the present time, but is considering to make this decision within the next 6 months (Vallis et al, 2003). I met with the nurse when I was at the contemplation stage. Perhaps, this could explain why I was very receptive and willing to start interventions in the near future. During this stage, the nurse emphasized to me the pros of changing my behaviours. For instance, she pointed out that I was exposed to more health risks when I was overweight such as progressing on to obesity. I started viewing exercise and healthy eating habits in a positive light. On the other hand, avoiding these healthy habits would me to become obese.

At the preparation stage, the individual is making plans to change their behaviour within the next month (Vallis et al, 2003). For instance, I started joining Facebook groups that featured discussions of people who ate health foods and exercised regularly. This has exposed me to a community of similar minded people over the years that have strengthened my result to abstain from fast foods and sugared beverages.

During the action stage, the individual has made observable changes in behaviour within the past six months. However, at this stage, the changes, are not yet actually developed (Vallis et al, 2003). At this stage, I actively structured my external environment and relied on a support system to help me. My mentor allowed me to call her at the times when I felt a desire to go and buy fast foods and sugared beverages. I found this particularly helpful at such moments because she encouraged me to be resolute by reminding me of the positive effects of abstinence. Also, at this stage, I developed a bond with another girl that was undergoing the same treatment procedure under the same nurse. This girl is also my classmate and is also motivated in helping other people that are overweight and obese.

During the maintenance stage, the individual has already made changes in their behaviour for a period exceeding 6 months and has made an effort to sustain the changes in their habits (Vallis et al, 2003). At this time, I only consumed healthy foods as recommended by my nurse. Despite my initial objections to healthy foods because of costs, I have not faced financial restraints in buying healthy foods and paying the gym where I work out for one hour every weekday.

After successfully maintaining healthy eating and regular exercising habits successfully for one year, I have never relapsed into unhealthy eating habits or stayed for a long period without exercise. Hence, I have successfully applied the Trans theoretical Model Stages of Change and Pender's Health Promotion Model in conjunction with my mentor nurse to treat unhealthy eating habits that had made me become obese (Vallis et al, 2003).

Evaluation and New Learning

After evaluation, the Trans theoretical Stages Model of Behaviour Change is effective because it separates the different stages that a person undergoes on the path to successfully acquiring healthy eating habits and developing a regular exercise regimen. Through my mentor who also acted as the nurse that guided me through the process of change over a period of two years. The main thing that I have learnt from this experience is that the nurse can point things to a patient that they had not known initially. For instance, my nurse successfully pointed out that I was overweight and convinced me along with my peer that we could only improve our BMIs if we actively embraced Pender's Health Promotion Model through the different stages of change.

Conclusion

The Trans theoretical stages model of behaviour change offered a good framework for me and my mentor nurse to work together towards treating my overweight conditions through acquiring health eating habits. I successfully mastered the stages which are five, i.e., contemplation, precontemplation, action, preparation, and lastly maintenance. I have never relapsed into unhealthy eating habits for a period of thirteen months now. Also, I shaped my external environment to assist me in making better choices towards acquiring healthy eating habits and a regular exercise regimen and thus believe that Pender's Health Promotion Model can be applied in other similar cases to help individuals value their health.

References

Canadian Diabetes Association. (2019). Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/healthy-living-resources/weight-management/body-mass-index-bmi-calculator

Khodaveisi, M., Omidi, A., Farokhi, S., & Ali Soltanian. (2017). International Journal Community Based Nurse Midwifer (5)2, 165-174.

Kozier, Barbara. (2018). Fundamentals of Nursing. Addisson-Wesley Longman, Boston: Massachusetts.

Mastellos, N., Gunn, L. & Felix, L., Car, J. & Majeed, Azeem. (2014). Transtheoretical model stages of change for dietary and physical exercise modification in weight loss management for overweight and obese adults. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2(2), CD008066. https:// DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008066.pub3

Vallis, M., Ruggiero, L., Greene, G.....& James Prochaska. Stages of Change for Healthy Eating Diabetes. Diabetes Care (26)5, 1468-1474. http://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.26.5.1468