Only 1 in 10 Patients Told to Lose Weight Seek Help From a Health Professional: A Nationally Representative Sample

Abstract

Purpose: Receiving weight loss advice from a health-care provider has been associated with more weight loss efforts and greater odds of achieving weight loss. However, whether patients seek help from their provider or other health professional with weight loss after receiving advice from them to lose weight is largely unknown. Design: Cross-sectional data from the 2011 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Sample: A total of 3862 overweight/obese adults. Measures: Questionnaires asked whether participants received advice to lose weight, and whether they sought health professional’s assistance with weight management. The NHANES 2011 to 2012 was the most recent year both questions were asked. Analysis: Accounting for NHANES sampling and design, frequency distributions characterized demographics and proportions. Logistic regressions estimated odds of seeking weight loss help by demographics. Results: Of 3682 overweight/obese adults, 1908 were told they were overweight or recommended to lose weight. Of 1908 people, 68% reported weight loss efforts, but only health 10.9% sought a health professional’s help (dietician/nutritionist 4.7%, personal trainer 3.0%, doctor 2.8%). Females, people with health insurance and high health-care utilization had 1.5 to 3.5 times greater odds of seeking help; age, ethnicity, and income were not significantly associated with seeking help with weight management. Conclusion: In a nationally representative sample, only 10.9% of overweight/obese adults told to lose weight by a provider sought help from a health professional with weight loss. This underscores the opportunity for greater health professional involvement with weight management beyond giving recommendations.

Healthcare provider counselling for weight management behaviours among adults with overweight or obesity: a cross-sectional analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2018

“…52 Relatedly, a recent study found that only 10.9% of adults with overweight/obesity who were advised to lose weight sought help from health professionals. 53 HCPs also should discuss evidence-based strategies for behaviour change such as self-monitoring, 54 using SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) goals, 54 and seeking social support 55 for their behaviour change efforts.…”

“…52 Relatedly, a recent study found that only 10.9% of adults with overweight/obesity who were advised to lose weight sought help from health professionals. 53 HCPs also should discuss evidence-based strategies for behaviour change such as self-monitoring, 54 using SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) goals, 54 and seeking social support 55 for their behaviour change efforts. Study findings should be considered in light of study limitations, which include the cross-sectional study design and the use of self-reported data assessing receipt of HCP counselling, reported actions on HCPs' recommendations and PA levels.…”

Seeking lifestyle counselling at primary health care centres: a cross-sectional study in the Swedish population

“…Instead, they preferred self-guided efforts to manage ill health [ 16 ]. Another study reported that approximately 10% of overweight/obese adults sought care from either dieticians/nutritionist, personal trainer or doctors to lose weight [ 17 ]. However, in contrast, persons with obesity or overweight have reported a need of more help with weight management from physicians in primary health care [ 18 ].…”

Patient perceptions about obesity management in the context of concomitant care for other chronic diseases

“…While obesity-related chronic diseases are managed within primary and secondary care systems, obesity as a chronic disease is undertreated [ [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] ]. While several provincial medical associations as well as the Canadian Medical Association now recognize obesity as a chronic disease [ 7 ], no provincial or territorial health system has included obesity within their existing chronic disease management frameworks.…”