PHC6534: Using a Trauma-Informed Approach for Obesity Prevention and Reduction

Excess weight has been known to be a risk factor for several top leading causes of death, including heart disease, various types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and stroke (Centers for Disease Control, 2018). Several studies have documented that adverse experiences during childhood, including exposure to sexual and physical abuse and witnessing violence, are associated with the development of obesity (Isohookana et al., 2016) and puts individuals at an increased risk of serious diseases and health issues, as well as reduced quality of life.

I am proposing a trauma-informed intervention targeted toward young adults who have experienced childhood trauma and are at high risk for obesity and related long-term complications. While most obesity-targeted interventions prioritize exercise and diet, this intervention will go beyond that to address underlying trauma by utilizing a patient-centered approach. Rather than emphasizing weight loss and short-term fixes, the project activities will focus on participants’ individual needs and will include weekly private counseling with a mental health counselor, weekly fitness classes aimed at empowerment and building participants’ self-efficacy and body-positivity, weekly health education workshops centered around goal setting, mindfulness, etc., and support groups with other participants to promote social support and interaction. The goal of the program is to help participants become aware about the effects of trauma, build resiliency and promote healing from their traumatic past, and learn healthy behaviors and skills that they can implement into their lives long-term.

This intervention utilizes a public health framework with its emphasis on the interaction between physical health, social health, and emotional/mental health as interrelated and equal contributors to overall well-being. This project is primarily aimed at secondary prevention (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016), as we have identified individuals who have experienced multiple ACEs and who are classified as overweight or obese as the target population and are at risk for long-term obesity and the associated diseases and illnesses. The intentions of the program activities are to address the traumatic experiences that participants have faced in order to help them heal and minimize the risk of consequent negative health outcomes.

Additionally, the proposed project will address the individual and interpersonal levels of McLeroy’s socioecological model (Golden et al., 2015). The intrapersonal level is being addressed through personal counseling, education, and empowerment to help them heal from their past experiences, and the interpersonal level will be addressed through the relationships formed with other participants in the program through program activities and increased social support.

This project will be guided by multiple principles of SAMHA’S trauma-informed approach (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014), including safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, and empowerment, voice and choice. We will ensure that program activities occur in an inviting location and that participants are at minimal risk for re-traumatization, the team will be upfront and open with participants about the entire process, participants will have the opportunity to socially interact with and support each other, and participants will gain a strengthened sense of autonomy, empowerment, and encouragement to make choices that will better all aspects of their health.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Adult Obesity Causes and Consequences. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html. Accessed February 19, 2021.
2. Isohookana, R., Marttunen, M., Hakko, H., Riipinen, P., & Riala, K. (2016). The impact of adverse childhood experiences and unhealthy weight control behaviors among adolescents. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 71, 17-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.08.002
3. Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia. (2016). Trauma-Informed Philanthropy: A Funder’s Resource Guide for Supporting Trauma-Informed Practice in the Delaware Valley. https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www....mgr/pn_miscdocs/Trau maGUIDE_FinalWeb.pdf. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHA’S concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
5. Golden S. D., McLeroy K. R.., Green L. W., Earp J. A., & Lieberman L. D. (2015). Upending the social ecological model to guide health promotion efforts toward policy and environmental change. Health Educ Behavior, 42(1 Suppl):8S-14S. doi: 10.1177/1090198115575098.