Lena Sagi-Dain
Carmel Medical Center, Israel
Title: How to tell patients they need to lose weight? Viewpoints of 1,697 overweight and obese individuals
Biography
Biography: Lena Sagi-Dain
Abstract
Introduction: Given the negative health consequences of excess weight, healthcare providers have been encouraged to discuss the issue of weight during medical appointments. However, since obesity is a highly stigmatized condition, and since many obese patients have a history of numerous failed dietary and physical activity attempts, bringing up the issue of excess weight can aggravate feelings of stress and frustration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preferences of overweight and obese individuals regarding the optimal approach for bringing up the subject of weight by health practitioners.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted by distribution of an open anonymous questionnaire in social media platforms during September 2020, aimed for respondents with body mass index (BMI) over 25 kg/m2. The questionnaire was comprised of Likert-scale based and open-ended questions, evaluating respondents' experiences and preferences in the context of bringing up the topic of overweight by the medical personnel.
Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1,697 respondents. Only 14.5% agreed that the weight issue should be brought up at medical appointments, and 69.3% preferred health practitioners to ask in advance whether the patient agrees to talk about the excess weight. The participants noted that they were frequently advised to lose weight during medical appointments, without them wanting to talk about this at all (65.0%), when the reason for their appointment was irrelevant to being overweight (60.4%), and without receiving any effective and practical tools on losing weight (60.1%).
Discussion: Health practitioners should acknowledge that most obese patients are aware of the excess weight, many of them have tried to lose weight for decades, and that bringing about the weight issue during medical appointments might cause considerable frustration. Prior to discussing the issue of excess weight, health practitioners should ask patients' permission, and a refuse should be respected and followed. Health practitioners should learn more about the numerous reasons for obesity, appreciate the adverse effects of weight stigmatization, and be able to offer the patients practical tools to lose weight.