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Overweight obese health providers are less successful in helping patients lose weight
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Among nonphysician health providers, those with normal BMI report being more successful than overweight and obese providers in assisting obese patients with weight loss, according to recent findings.
The analysis collected data from a national, cross-sectional, internet-based survey of nonphysician health providers in each of the following five fields: nutrition, nursing, behavioral/mental health, exercise and pharmacy. The researchers identified 100 respondents from each of the five fields and data was collected between Jan. 20 and Feb. 5, 2014.
Professionals were defined as overweight or obese if they had a self-reported BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and were categorized as normal if their BMI was <25 kg/m2. In the survey, respondents looked at photos of five body types, depicting a range from normal BMI to class III obesity, and they were asked to choose the patients size at which they would typically begin a weight loss care regimen.
The primary outcome was the providers’ depiction of the weight at which as weight loss plan should be initiated. A secondary outcome was self-reported levels of success in helping patients lose weight, along with self-confidence in this task and perceptions of patients trust.
The researchers found that there was a higher rate of self-reported success among normal BMI health care providers (52%) vs. overweight/obese providers (29%) in helping patients lose weight (P=.01). The researchers did not observe disparities by provider BMI in perceptions of a suitable patient body weight to initiate weight loss efforts. No differences in self-reported confidence or perceived patient trust were seen.
Notable, the investigators found that regardless of provider BMI, the majority of nonphysician health professionals do not feel that they are effective in aiding patient weight loss until the patient is morbidly obese.
According to the researchers, increased efforts are needed to promote better and earlier weight loss intervention by nonphysician providers.
“More researcher is needed to understand how to improve self-efficacy for delivering obesity care for nonphysician health professionals through additional training, and how to encourage these professionals to engage obese patients in weight management before patients reach extreme obesity,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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