Running Head: OBESITY IN THE PINELLAS REGION

Health Policy Intervention for Obesity in the Pinellas Region

Renee Dabydeen
University of South Florida

OBESITY IN THE PINELLAS REGION

Health Policy Intervention for Obesity in the Pinellas Region

The Sunshine state, Florida, is well known for its beautiful beaches, amusement parks,
and warm weather. However, many people are unaware of the individual 67 counties that make
up this sunshine state and influence it as a whole (Onboard Informatics, 2013). One major county
is Pinellas; this urban county is 608 miles squared with an average population density of 3,277
people per a square mile (Onboard Informatics, 2013). With this high-density population, there is
a high demand for employment in the area, as well as, high demand for employer product.
Pinellas Countys major employers include Raymond James Financial, Home Shopping Network
and Bright house networks, which together employ over 10,000 employees in the area (Pinellas
County Economic Development, 2015). In addition, with a large population there is an increase
demand for health care facilities and organizations due to an increased chance of communicable
diseases and accidents to occur. Some health care facilities include Bay Care, Largo Medical
Center, Morton Plant Hospital and Bay Pine Veterans Affair medical center (Onboard
Informatics, 2013).
Moreover, some socioeconomic statistics about Pinellas County were examined and
compared to the State statistics. According to Florida Department of Health (2015) in Pinellas
County, Florida 2013 County Health Profile, Pinellas county has 8.1 % of families that are
below the poverty line compared to the 9.9% of Florida overall. Also 11.9% of Pinellas Countys
population are over the age of 25, without a high school diploma compared to the states 14.7%
(Florida Department of Health, 2015). Furthermore, Pinellas countys population that does not
speak English is 5.5% while the states overall percentage is 11.8 (Florida Department of Health,
2015). By looking at the statistics of the Pinellas region one can see the array of affects that can
influence the health of this population.

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By looking at the above statistics, there are many health strengths that can be recognized
in the Pinellas County. These strengths include that Pinellas County have a lower amount of
families that live under the poverty line compared to the state average. This is significant to the
populations health because families that deal with poverty are less likely to receive the needed
nutrients, as well as, pay for health care needs. Another strength includes that there is a smaller
population without their high school diploma compared to the state. John Hopkins (2012),
research describes this a positive influence on health because attaining higher education levels
can help patients take a more active role in the management of their disease. Also, the fact that
the Pinellas County area has fewer people that do not speak English compared to the state
average is considered health strength. The reason behind this is that there are fewer issues with
health literacy, meaning that the physicians and patients are able to communicate efficiently
without confusion in culture or language barriers about the plan of care.
Although there are many strengths to the health of Pinellas County population there are
also some areas that need improvement. One area includes the amount of deaths within the years
of 2011-2013 due to cancer. The state average was 159 while the county average was 163
(Florida Department of Health, 2015). This is a concern because it is higher than the state
average and is one of Pinellas Countys leading causes of death. Another area that needs
improvement includes that 47.9% of the Pinellas adult population in 2012 was diagnosed with
high cholesterol compared to the state average of 38.6% (Florida Department of Health, 2015).
This is significant because of the large gap between the county and state. In addition 41.6% of
the Pinellas adult population in 2010 was considered overweight compared to the state average
of 37.8% (Florida Department of Health, 2015). By looking at both, the large gap in high
cholesterol and overweight adults between state and county one can see that these two factors

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correlate. Being overweight and having high cholesterol go hand and hand. By focusing on
lowering the amount of the adult population that is overweight, there are many other health
factors that can benefit.
By looking at the health issue, adults that are overweight in the Pinellas area, one can
apply the determinant of health model. This model examines an array of factors including
personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status (HealthyPeople
2020, 2015). As a community heath nurse, one can use these factors to create proper
interventions that will benefit the population more efficiently. The way in which this model assist
community health nurses is by allowing them to examine many areas that need to be considered
when helping the community. Unlike the controlled hospital setting, community health nurses
have to look at the situation as a whole to better bend and fit the needs of community.
The factors that contribute to the amount of overweight population in the Pinellas area
include human biology, environment and lifestyle. Research shows that human biology does
influence the amount of overweight population, as illustrated in twin study that suggest that
genetic factor explain 50 to 60% of variance in BMI (Maes. H. H., Naele C. M. & Eaves J.
L.2010). Moreover, the environment also plays a key role in this health issue because, as
explained in the article Genetics and Environmental factors the environment combined with
the genetic element work together to influence the overall BMI of each individual (Maes. H. H.,
Naele C. M. & Eaves J. L.2010). Also looking at the amount of fast food restaurants in the area
including 14 Arbys, 13 Chick-fil-As and 38 Dunkin Donuts demonstrates the persuasion and
likelihood to eat at these places rather than eating fresh home made food (Onboard Informatics,
2013). Moreover, the lifestyle of this population also influences the amount of adult overweight
population, the reason behind this includes that only 36.8% of the population meet moderate

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physical activity recommendations (Florida Department of Health, 2015). Also the fact that there
are so many prospering fast food chains in the area demonstrates the food choices for much of
the population.
Based on the health issue and considering the determinant of health a population
diagnosis was formulated. The diagnosis is that the adult population of Saint Petersburg is at risk
of an obese population related to life style and environmental factors as evidence by the increase
trend in overweight adults.
A primary level of prevention to help decrease the risk of obesity in the Pinellas,
specifically in Saint Petersburg, is to build a fitness park at Crescent Lake next to the childrens
park. This affects the community on a level of recipients and is a form of health promotion. The
way in which this is a health promotion is that it gives the adults a place to exercise and is
convenient for parents because their children can play at the children park while they exercise.
This information is further supported by an interview done with two members of the community,
in which both agreed that it would be convenient. Also one of the interviewees stated that I
would walk around the park but I just dont like leaving my children, it would be nice to see
them in eye view and also work out. (J. Doe, personal communication, June 10, 2015). The
stakeholder toward whom the intervention is gear to is community members and funding
sources. Furthermore, a way in which a community health nurse can help carry out this
intervention is to inform their community patient about the free community exercise services that
are available to them.
A secondary level of prevention to help decrease the risk of obesity in the Saint
Petersburg is to have a informational guest speaker come to a recreational area such as Fossil and
Robert recreational center and educate them on what it means to be overweight, as well as, living

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with obesity. Also after the event there will be booths set up to calculate the participants BMI and
hand out informational pamphlets. This is a form of case finding and screening for the
community as the recipient. Overall, this will increase awareness in the community and begin the
start the move toward prevention. Research shows that many American are unaware of being
overweight and as a result take no measures to prevent it (Burke E. L., Wang J. & Sevick A. M.
2011). The stakeholders of this prevent also include the community members and funding
sources. The way in which a community nurse can support this event is by informing their
community patient of the event as well as going to the event to support their patient and other
participants.
A tertiary level of prevention to help decrease the risk of obesity in Saint Petersburg, is
for obese patients that are under government provided health insurance to have to keep a journal
of ways that they helped improve their obesity over a month-to-month bases. The recipient is
each individual patient and helps monitor compliance, as well as, creates consequences. In the
informational novel Behavioral Therapy, a study was done that showed that subjects that
monitored themselves consistently experiences the most weight change and maintenance (Burke
E. L., Wang J. & Sevick A. M. 2011). The stakeholders of this intervention method are health
care providers, legislators and the patients. The community nurses role is to monitor the journal
of the patients and make sure that they are up to date and educate them on ways to help prevent
the increase in their obesity.
After examining all of the above preventions, the prevention that seems the most
promising to become a health policy is a fitness park next to Crescent Lake. This will impact
health care by offering the community a free way to prevent obesity. This health policy is a
primary level of prevention, and will give parents the opportunity to be in eye view of their

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children while exercising. Also people that take a walk or run around the park can use the fitness
park as a stretching and warm up area to perform more physical activity. The desired goal is for
the community to utilize the park and see a decrease in the overweight and obese population in
the area. The stakeholder affected by the prosed health policy includes community members,
public officials, and funding sources. The supporters of the policy include the community
members that will be utilizing the fitness park to better their health, as well as, some public
officials that see this as a benefit to the community. However, the opposing forces include the
funding sources, which are the tax dollars and some public officials that feel that the cost
outweighs the benefits. The first steps toward presenting the health policy proposal is surveying
people that go to Crescent Lake and get their input about the fitness park. From there one can
contact public officials and present the amount of people surveyed and agreed with the
placement of a fitness park. Overall this will impact the amount of overweight population and
decrease the amount of the population at risk for obesity.
In conclusion, after examining the statistical values of Pinellas County to Florida State
one can see the increasing trend of obesity within this region. As community nurses it is
important to be aware of these statics and implement proper preventions that can benefit the
community. As a community nurse it is important to consider the community as your patient and
examine an array of factors that influences and ways to intervene and make a difference for each
patient.

References

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Burke E. L., Wang J. & Sevick A. M. (2011). Journal of American dietetic association.

Self-

Monitoring in Weight Loss: A systematic Review of the Literature, 111, 92-102.

Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
S0002822310016445
Florida Department of Health (2015). Florida charts. Pinellas County, Florida 2013 County
Health Profile. Retrieved from http://www.floridacharts.com/charts/
CountyHealthProfile.aspx?county=52&reportYear=2013&tn=31
HealthyPeople 2020. (2015) Determinants of Health. Retrieved from
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-healthmeasures/Determinants-of-Health
John Hopkins Center. (2012). Eliminate cardiovascular health disparities. Education.
Retrieved from http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johnshopkins-center-to-eliminate-cardiovascular-health-disparities/
Maes. H. H., Naele C. M. & Eaves J. L. (2010). Behavior genetics. Genetic and Environmental
Factors in Relative Body Weight and Human Adiposity, 27, 325-

351. Retrieved from

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1025635913927
Onboard Informatics. (2013). City-Data. Pinellas County, Florida. Retrieved from
http://www.city-data.com/county/Pinellas_County-FL.html
Pinellas County Economic Development. (2015). Pinellas County, Florida ideal business climate.
Pinellas Countys Largest Private Target Industry Employers. Retrieved from
http://www.pced.org/demographics_data/
Pinellas County Florida. (2015). Human Resources. Retrieved from
http://www.pinellascounty.org/humanservices/

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