What Do Physicians Recommend To Their Overweight and Obese Patients?

Article Figures & Data

Table 1.

Physician Characteristics (n = 101)

Characteristics	%
Age (years)
31–40	23.5
41–50	38.8
51–60	25.5
>60	12.2
Gender
Male	69.4
Female	30.6
Weight
Normal weight	81.4
Overweight	18.6
Field
Internal medicine	37.1
Family practice	47.4
Other	15.5
Physical activity level/week (minutes)
>150	67.3
<150	32.7
Diabetes
Yes	7.1
No	92.9
History of heart disease
Yes	4.1
No	95.9

Table 2.

Physicians’ Self-Reported Frequency of Recommending Various Weight Loss Strategies

Weight Loss Strategy	Frequency (mean ± SD)
Increase physical activity	6.7 ± 0.5^a
Reduce consumption of fast food	6.5 ± 1.0^b
Reduce portion sizes	6.1 ± 1.1^c
Reduce soda consumption	6.0 ± 1.4^d
Eat a low-calorie diet	5.6 ± 1.3^e
Suggest a specific type of physical activity	5.6 ± 1.3^e
Decrease the fat content of the diet	5.4 ± 1.5^e,f
Consume breakfast	5.4 ± 1.9^e,f
Recommend a specific intensity of physical activity	5.1 ± 1.5^f
Recommend locations to which individuals can go to engage in physical activity	5.1 ± 1.5^f
Refer to a dietitian for individual counseling	4.7 ± 1.4^g
Weigh themselves regularly	4.5 ± 1.9^g,h
Use fat and/or calorie modified foods	4.3 ± 1.7^h,i
Provide in-office educational materials	4.3 ± 1.7^h,i
Refer to a commercial program	4.1 ± 1.6^h,i
Follow a specific calorie goal	4.1 ± 1.7^i,j
Eat a modified low-carbohydrate diet (ie, <40 g carbohydrate)	3.9 ± 1.7^i,j
Record food intake in a diary	3.8 ± 1.9^i,j
Decrease television viewing	3.6 ± 1.9^j
Eat a Mediterranean diet	3.2 ± 1.9^k
Eat a low-carbohydrate diet	3.0 ± 1.7^k
Use meal replacements	2.6 ± 1.6^l,k
Refer to an exercise specialist	2.4 ± 1.4^l
Recommend Internet sources for weight loss	2.4 ± 1.6^l
Use weight loss medication	2.0 ± 1.1^m

Table 3.

Physician Characteristics and Frequency of Addressing Weight Control Issues with Obese Patients^*

Characteristic	Frequency (mean ± SD)	P
Age (years)
31–40	5.9 ± 0.8
41–50	6.1 ± 0.9	.03
51–60	5.6 ± 1.4
>60	6.7 ± 0.5
Gender		.06
Male	5.9 ± 1.1
Female	6.3 ± 0.8
Weight		.15
Normal weight	6.1 ± 1.0
Overweight	5.7 ± 1.0
Field		.89
Internal medicine	5.9 ± 1.2
Family practice	6.0 ± 0.8
Other	5.9 ± 1.2
Physical activity level (minutes per week)		.001
>150	6.2 ± 0.9
<150	5.5 ± 1.1
Diabetes		.71
Yes	6.1 ± 0.9
No	6.0 ± 1.0
History of heart disease		.33
Yes	6.5 ± 0.6
No	6.0 ± 1.0