WEIGHT-MANAGEMENT CLINIC: RAISING ISSUES WITH PATIENTS
Many health professionals express concern about how a patient will react if the issue of overweight and obesity is raised. They fear that it could damage the doctor-patient relationship. This sensitivity on the part of health professionals reflects the difficulties to be found in discussing obesity not just within a clinic setting but also in society in general.
In the author’s experience the majority of patients understands the reason for raising the subject, do not take offence and are often only too pleased that the doctor or nurse has expressed an interest and understanding of the significance obesity has on their potential disease development.
In raising the issue of obesity it is important that the clinician exercises good communication skills, finds the right language to use in that particular context, avoids the use of medical jargon and puts the effects of obesity in context with the rest of the patient’s medical history. For example, a patient is unlikely to embrace the concept of weight loss as a means of dealing with their type 2 diabetes if the role of medication (which would perhaps be their first expectation) is not discussed and put into context. The clinician needs to address the patient’s concern, discuss how much support is to be offered and to establish an agreed approach towards weight loss.
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