RESUMEN
Despite obesity impacting over one-third of US adults, guideline recommendations have not been effectively utilized by health care providers in hospital settings. Initiation of weight loss plans for obese patients during hospitalizations followed by linkage of care to weight control centers may improve compliance with the guidelines. Provider recognition and awareness that obesity is a chronic condition that warrants inpatient counsel and management with appropriate arrangement of postdischarge follow-up care will be critical to guideline implementation.
RESUMEN
Health education, as a discipline and specialization, is often overshadowed by other branches of public health (e.g., bio-statistics, epidemiology, and policy management). Although social workers have been performing health education for decades, social work students may not know the history of health education as a practice profession and its uses in a social work context. The purpose of this article is to introduce the field of health education to social work students who are currently, or anticipate, practicing health education in their careers. We conclude with implications for social work education and a discussion about the impact of collaborative social work and health education efforts in the reduction of health disparities.