Background: Overweight and obesity, while preventable, has nearly doubled worldwide since 1980. The World Health Organization estimates that 65% of the world’s populations live in countries were ovderweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control, overweight and obesity in the United States have reached epidemic proportions affecting all age groups, genders and ethnicities. Foreground: Montana’s obesity statistics reveal that nearly two-thirds fo adults are overweight per Body Mass Index (BMI) guidelines. A review of the current literature pertaining to obesity and health confirms that assessment and education regarding obesity is a major component in the treatment process for obesity and weight management. The current screening tool of choice for obesity assessment is the BMI. Evidence Based Practice (EBP) Framework: Larrabee’s Model of Evidence Based Practice was used to guide this capstone project in achieving practice change. Additionally, the Health-Belief Model was applied as a theoretical framwork examining provider attitudes regarding obesity and education. Methods: Weight and height assessment was performed by participating providers and compared to the BMI to determine overweight and obesity. Clients were educated about their weight and obesity risk using the BMI template and weight, height, BMI and education was documented in the client chart by the provider. Findings: Upon project completion, a retrospective chart review was performed of 324 Department of Transportation physical examinations. Results of this project revealed 207 client records contained documented height, weight, BMI and education. Conclusion: Findings were reflective of literature regarding barriers to education and documentation including human error, changes in established practices, time restraints, and provider assumptions regarding client education. It was determined that further education with providers and ongoing assessment of documentation would be warranted to increase provider adherence to the proposed outcomes of this project.
