Enabling participation in activities of daily living for people living with obesity
Publication year: 2020
Asking patients about their performance in daily activities including personal care, mobility and interactions with the built and social environment will provide valuable information about facilitators and barriers to engagement in daily activities, including treatment recommendations. This can help health care practitioners to tailor interventions for obesity treatment and management.
Places and spaces where health care service delivery occurs can be made physically accessible, equipped and respectful for use by persons living with obesity so that patients can access the full range of primary care services including assessment and treatment. Consideration of the accessible features surrounding the clinic space including access to parking, public transit, and door widths to accommodate mobility equipment are also needed.
Injury prevention, which includes falls risk reduction, is possible via the inclusion of exercises to improve postural control, balance, and lower extremity strength. The Falls Efficacy Scale1 is a psychometrically sound measure that determines an individual’s concern about their risk of falling while performing activities of daily living that involve walking or moving about.
Patients who report significant challenges with participation in activities of daily living may benefit from a referral for occupational therapy and/or physiotherapy.
Health care providers should look at the integrity of the patients’ skin and condition of any wounds in order to identify any areas of concern such as; pressure points, skin breakdown or signs of infection.