RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Documentation and Treatment of Obesity in Primary Care Physician Office Visits: The Role of the Patient-Physician Relationship JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine JO J Am Board Fam Med FD American Board of Family Medicine SP jabfm.2022.220297R1 DO 10.3122/jabfm.2022.220297R1 A1 Arch G. Mainous III A1 Zhigang Xie A1 Samuel B. Dickmann A1 James F. Medley A1 Young-Rock Hong YR 2023 UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/early/2023/03/03/jabfm.2022.220297R1.abstract AB Introduction: An ongoing patient-physician relationship may increase the likelihood of acknowledging obesity and providing a treatment plan. The purpose of the study was to investigate if continuity of care was associated with recording of obesity and receipt of a weight-loss treatment plan.Methods: We analyzed data from the 2016 and 2018 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Only adult patients with measured body mass index of ≥ 30 were included. Our primary measures were acknowledgment of obesity, treatment of obesity, continuity of care, and obesity-associated comorbid conditions.Results: Among patients who were objectively obese, only 30.6% had an acknowledgment of the patient's body composition in the visit. In adjusted analyses, continuity of care was not significantly related to recording of obesity but did significantly increase the likelihood of treatment for obesity. Continuity of care was only significantly related to obesity treatment when defined as a visit with the patient’s established primary care physician. The effect was not seen with continuity with the practice.Discussion: There are many missed opportunities for prevention of obesity-related disease. Continuity of care with a primary care physician was associated with benefits in treatment likelihood, but greater emphasis on managing obesity in a primary care visit seems warranted.