Weight Management: What Patients Want from Their Primary Care Physicians

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Original Research

Weight Management: What Patients Want from Their Primary Care Physicians

J Fam Pract. 2001 June;50(6):513-518

References

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Limitations

Our study was limited by its relatively small sample of patients in 2 group practices in San Francisco. However, the demographic findings were similar to those in larger studies, showing increasing rates of obesity in African Americans and Latinos and increasing rates of comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia among those who were more overweight.² Thus, there is reason to believe that our study population has similarities to larger randomly selected primary care populations used to study some of these issues in the past. Another limitation is that all the data except for BMI were obtained from self-report of patients. However, although patients might underreport the level of communication they have with their physicians, patient self-report may ultimately be the most relevant measure of what communication is remembered by the patient.

Conclusions

The results of our study demonstrate that most patients, regardless of their weight, are open to greater physician involvement in weight management. This is important information for primary care physicians who want to address these needs. More research is needed to develop effective primary care approaches to weight management that are flexible and sensitive enough to meet the diverse needs of all patients.

Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported by a grant (#5D32PE19036-09) from the Health Resources Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services to aid in the establishment of a department of family practice and by a grant from the California Academy of Family Physicians. We would also like to acknowledge Laurel Mellin, RD, who assisted with the development of the research instrument; Kim P. Truong, DO, who assisted with data collection; and Robert Wilson, PhD, who assisted with statistical analysis.

Related Resources

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: clinical guidelines for obesity http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_home.htm Includes the NIH guidelines on weight management and access to numerous clinical tools for physicians and patients.
Shape Up America! http://www.shapeup.org/ A joint effort of Shape Up America! and the American Obesity Association, with numerous links that are relevant to clinicians and patients.