Do overweight physicians avoid their patients' weight problems?
Study finds heavy physicians far less likely to diagnose obesity
January 27, 2012
Overweight patients struggling to bring down their weight may not get the help they need from their physician if he or she is overweight as well. A new study in Obesity suggests that overweight or obese physicians may avoid the issue altogether.
For the study, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers in 2011 surveyed 500 primary care physicians. They found that only 7% of overweight and obese physicians recorded an obesity diagnosis for their obese patients, compared to 93% of physicians who maintained a normal weight, meaning a body mass index below 25.
In addition, the researchers found that 30% of normal-weight physicians discussed weight loss with obese patients. In comparison, only 18% of overweight or obese physicians broached the issue. Meanwhile, 53% of normal-weight physicians gave diet advice and 56% gave exercise advice. In comparison, 37% of overweight or obese physicians discussed diet with patients and 38% discussed exercise.
According to lead author Sara Bleich, "[p]hysicians with normal BMI also have greater confidence in their ability to provide diet and exercise counseling and perceive their weight loss advice as trustworthy when compared to overweight or obese physicians" (Walker, "Picture of Health," Baltimore Sun, 1/26; Khan, "Booster Shots," Los Angeles Times, 1/26).Â
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