Few Patients With Obesity Receive Adequate Weight Loss Counseling
The majority of patients with obesity reported not receiving counseling on weight loss interventions from their primary care providers despite wanting to lose weight, according to the findings of a recent study.
Using data from the Patient Outcomes Research to Advance Learning, the researchers analyzed the responses of 5400 adults with a body mass index over 23 kg/m2 to questions regarding their weight-related healthcare experiences. A total of 2811 individuals (53%) returned the surveys (mean age 52.7%), of whom 79.4 % were categorized as obese.
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Among responders with obesity, 79.8% reported trying to lose weight within the last year, with more than half engaging in exercise and changing eating habits to promote weight loss. Less than 9% of respondents reported participating in a weight loss program or using weight loss medications and less than 3% reported undergoing weight loss surgery.
While 49.5% of providers sometimes brought up a patient’s weight at any clinic visit, 17.1% never mentioned weight. Based on responses to the surveys, the researchers found that providers were more likely to discuss lifestyle interventions (83.7%) and weight loss programs (62%) than meal replacements (19.2%), surgery (15.6%), or medications (10.6%) when discussing weight loss strategies.
In addition, 50% of respondents reported wanting more information about lifestyle changes and weight loss programs while also wanting more information about access to medications (41.2%), meal replacements (40.3%), and surgery (23%).
“Providers do not frequently bring up weight with their obese patients,” the researchers concluded. “Few patients have tried or received information about weight loss programs, meal replacements, medications, or surgery, yet they desire more information from their providers about these evidence-based tools.”
—Melissa Weiss
Reference:
Iwamoto S, Yamamoto A, Young DR, Bessesen DH. Weight loss habits, provider discussions, and desired information: survey of 2,811 adults with obesity. Presented at: ObesityWeek; Washginton, DC: October 29- November 2, 2017. https://obesityweek.com/abstract/weight-loss-habits-provider-discussions-and-desired-information-survey-of-2811-adults-with-obesity/.