This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Obese patients judged by clinicians less likely to attempt weight loss
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Obese and overweight patients who felt judged by their primary care doctors were less likely to attempt weight loss compared with those who discussed the matter with their clinician, according to researchers.
“Negative encounters can prompt a weight loss attempt, but our study shows they do not translate into success,” Kimberly A. Gudzune, MD, MPH, an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a press release. “Ideally, we need to talk about weight loss without making patients feel they are being judged. It’s a fine line to walk, but if we can do it with sensitivity, a lot of patients would benefit.”
The national internet-based survey included 600 adults (mean age, 47.4 years) in primary care with a BMI >25 in 2012. Weight loss outcomes included attempted weight loss and achieved weight loss (≥10%) in the last 12 months. The patients were asked if they were feeling judged about their weight by their primary care provider, according to researchers.
Kimberly A. Gudzune
“Many doctors avoid the conversation because they don’t want to make anyone feel bad, worrying they’ll create a rift with their patients if they even bring it up. But that is not in the patients’ best interest in terms of their long-term health,” Gudzune said.
Data indicated 21% of patients felt that their primary care provider judged them based on their weight. Patients who perceived judgment were more likely to attempt weight loss (OR=4.67; 95% CI, 1.96–11.14). However, they were not likely to demonstrate ≥10% weight loss (OR=0.87; 95% CI, 0.42–1.76), according to data.
Patients who reportedly spoke to their primary care provider about weight loss were significantly more likely to attempt weight loss (OR=5.15; 95% CI, 2.81–9.42), and reach a clinically significant amount of weight loss (OR=3.74; 95% CI, 1.8–7.78), according to data.
These findings demonstrate that primary care providers should consider additional training in preparation for the new Medicare benefit covering intensive behavioral counseling for weight loss, the researchers wrote.
“We don’t want to overwhelm them,” Gudzune said. “If we are their advocates in this process — and not their critics — we can really help patients to be healthier through weight loss.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts