The roles of nurses in preventing and managing excess weight among adults: A systematic scoping review.

BACKGROUND

Nurses are well-positioned to tackle obesity but literature on their roles remains unclear.

PURPOSE: To present an overview of nurses' roles in preventing and managing excess weight among adults.

METHODS

Following the Arksey and O'Malley methodology, 11 databases were searched from inception to September 2023. Eligibility screening showed good inter-rater reliability (κ=0.84). Articles were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and relevant data were charted.

DISCUSSION: In total, 86 studies were included with 41.9% published in America and 3.5% and 26.7% of the studies addressing overweight and obesity management, respectively. Nurses acted as health advocates (100%), offered psychological support (54.7%), fostered collaboration and networks (48.8%), and facilitated interventions (9.3%) addressing intrapersonal, organizational, and community-level factors of the socioecological model.

CONCLUSION

Further investigations into nurses' roles in the exclusive management of overweight and obesity are warranted. Focus on their contributions at the interpersonal and policy levels is also necessary.