Tackling the subject of weight with patients: the difficult conversation

BackgroundIn Australia people with a diagnosed chronic condition can be managed on unique funded care plans that allow the recruitment of a multidisciplinary team to assist in setting treatment goals and adequate follow up. In contrast to the World Health Organisation, the North American and European Medical Associations, the Australian Medical Association does not recognise obesity as a chronic condition, therefore excluding a diagnosis of obesity from qualifying for a structured and funded treatment plan.BodyThe Australian guidelines for management of Obesity in adults in Primary Care are structured around a five step process -the ‘5As’: Ask & Assess, Advise, Assist and Arrange’. This article aims to identify the key challenges and successes associated with the ‘5As’ approach, to better understand the reasons for the gap between the high Australian prevalence of overweight and obesity and an actual diagnosis and treatment plan for managing obesity. It argues that until the Australian health system follows the international lead and defines obesity as a chronic condition, the capacity for Australian doctors to diagnose and initiate structured treatment plans will remain limited and ineffective.ConclusionAustralian General Practitioners are limited in their ability manage obesity, as the current treatment guidelines only recognise obesity as a risk factor rather than a chronic condition.

show abstract

Why Australia needs to define obesity as a chronic condition

Opie

Haines

Ervin

et al. 2017

BMC Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

How to recognize obesity in children

Burton-Shepherd

2015

Practice Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Tackling the subject of weight with patients: the difficult conversation

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Why Australia needs to define obesity as a chronic condition

Why Australia needs to define obesity as a chronic condition

How to recognize obesity in children

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About