Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM on Bluesky
  • JABFM On Facebook
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
Review ArticleClinical Review

Obesity: A Move From Traditional To More Patient-Oriented Management

Beatrice E. Robinson, Dwenda K. Gjerdingen and Donald R. Houge
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice March 1995, 8 (2) 99-108; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.8.2.99
Beatrice E. Robinson
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Dwenda K. Gjerdingen
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Donald R. Houge
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Background: Family physicians have been encouraged to be aggressive in their treatment of obesity in their overweight patients. This article examines our traditional management of obesity and presents a management approach that is relatively safe, healthy, and patient-oriented.

Methods: A review of the literature on obesity and its treatment was performed by searching MEDLINE, PsychINFO, ERIC, and SOCA data bases from 1980 to 1993. Additional references were accessed by cross-referencing the bibliographies of the articles obtained through this search.

Results and Conclusions: Both physicians and society in general tend to be biased against obese individuals, and this bias has negative consequences in that it reinforces patients’ negative stereotypes about their fatness and could contribute to their avoidance of physicians. To circumvent this tendency, physicians should make a conscious effort to treat their obese patients with understanding and respect and to offer treatment that optimizes their risk-benefit profile. Regardless of weight, all patients should be asked about their diet and exercise history, and a brief mental status evaluation should be performed to screen for eating disorders and other psychosocial disorders. In addition, all patients should be encouraged to follow a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular, moderate exercise and a balanced, low-fat diet. Repeated dieting should be avoided, because it can produce more harm than benefit by contributing to binge eating, loss of self-esteem, and increased risk of sudden death and cardiovascular disease. Thus, only obese patients who have never attempted comprehensive weight reduction programs should be encouraged to try such a program. Patients who have severe obesity that interferes with their lives or who have moderate obesity and a comorbid condition can be offered a gastroplasty or gastric bypass procedure, coupled with an explanation and discussion of the success and failure rates involved. Regardless of whether patients are able to lose weight, the family physician can still provide long-term support and care and encourage a healthy lifestyle in these patients.

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family     Practice: 8 (2)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
Vol. 8, Issue 2
1 Mar 1995
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Obesity: A Move From Traditional To More Patient-Oriented Management
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
16 + 0 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Obesity: A Move From Traditional To More Patient-Oriented Management
Beatrice E. Robinson, Dwenda K. Gjerdingen, Donald R. Houge
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Mar 1995, 8 (2) 99-108; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.8.2.99

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Obesity: A Move From Traditional To More Patient-Oriented Management
Beatrice E. Robinson, Dwenda K. Gjerdingen, Donald R. Houge
The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice Mar 1995, 8 (2) 99-108; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.8.2.99
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Role of the family doctor in the management of adults with obesity: a scoping review
  • Just how demanding can we be before we blow it?
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Interpretating Normal Values and Reference Ranges for Laboratory Tests
  • Non-Surgical Management of Urinary Incontinence
  • Screening and Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes in Sickle Cell Disease
Show more Clinical Review

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2025 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire