How Can Emrs’ Help to Manage Childhood Obesity?

How Can EMRs’ Help to Manage Childhood Obesity?

Rachele Garhart Belt

University of Maryland University College

HCAD 610/Fall 2011

Research Paper

Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….3

Review & Analysis………………………………………………………………………………..4

Conclusion……………………..................................................…………………………………6

Glossary…………………………………………………………………………………………..7

References………………………………………………………………………………………..8

Introduction

        Childhood obesity has become a nationwide epidemic over the last ten years.  Despite efforts to conquer it, obesity is showing up earlier in life.  Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past thirty years and now more than one third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese in the United States (Center for Disease Control, 2011).  Overweight and obesity are the result of caloric imbalance and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors (Center for Disease Control, 2011).  Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term effects on a child’s health and well being.  Immediate health effects include risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  Obese children and adolescents are also more likely to have prediabetes, greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self esteem (Center for Disease Control, 2011).  Some of the long term effects are that obese children and adolescents are more likely to be obese adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and osteoarthritis (Center for Disease Control, 2011).

        New studies emerge each day that point to the ability of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) to improve a patient’s quality of care and the practice of medicine. EMRs can be a powerful tool in helping to identify and target the causes of childhood obesity across the United States. National health data from EMR systems can be a vital tool for evaluating trends and improving public health policies, programs and services.  This paper will demonstrate the importance of EMR adoption and implementation to manage and eventually eliminate childhood obesity in the United States.