Obesity Alliance Surveys Find Primary Care Practices Not Prepared to  Help Patients Manage Weight

The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance recently released a white paper on innovative approaches for obesity management in primary care. The paper noted that while primary care physicians recognize their role in addressing obesity, they report that they lack the necessary weight management resources. In a national survey of 290 primary care physicians conducted by Harris Interactive, 89% believed that it is their responsibility to help overweight or obese patients lose weight, though 72% noted that no one in their practice has been trained to deal with weight-related issues. While time constraints to providing weight management assistance were cited by survey respondents, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, former US Surgeon General and STOP chairman, noted that “Even if they had those precious extra minutes, many would still be missing the needed information about weight-loss tools and existing programs.”

A related Harris poll of 1002 US adults found, that while most recognize the health impacts of their weight and take personal responsibility for weight loss, only 39% of respondents with a BMI of 30 or more (those classified as obese) had ever been told by a health care professional that they were obese. Among those who were told by a health care professional to lose weight, only one in three reported that their physicians discussed what they should do to lose weight. According to Christine Ferguson, JD, STOP Obesity Alliance Director and research professor at George Washington University, “Patients are frustrated from previous weight loss attempts and need realistic definitions of success that focus on health. Establishing a 5 to 10% weight loss as a starting point for success could result in improved weight management outcomes.”

The white paper detailed five key areas to explore in order to improve the treatment of obesity in primary care:

1) Monitoring weight, health indicators and risk
2) Assessing patient motivation
3) Defining success
4) Increasing integration and care coordination
5) Implementing electronic medical records

Dr. Carmona added “We’re dealing with a multi-factorial health condition that is challenging to those who suffer from it and those who treat it. These STOP Obesity Alliance findings support the need to address America’s obesity epidemic with a range of solutions that motivate and engage both health care professionals and patients in settings and achieving realistic goals related to weight gain.” HealthSciences Institute will host a free Population Health Improvement Learning Collaborative event on September 10th titled “Weight Management Strategies, Approaches and Tools” with Kim Gorman, MS, RD, BS, director of the Colorado Weigh program and editorial coordinator for the journal Obesity and Weight Management. Learn more and register now.

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