Why Aren’t Physicians Talking About Obesity? August 19, 2013 Guest Blog, Physician Resource, SFMS Member JumpstartMD, Sean Bourke, Obesity, SFMS guest blogger 0 By Sean Bourke, MD You might have seen recent headlines trumpeting the news that the AMA has now reclassified obesity from a condition to a “disease.” The newfound hope is that this change of heart will alter the way physicians address this complex issue. While such thinking may be self-evident to most, the reality is that many patients and their physicians never broach the words “overweight” or “obese” during their visits. Quite commonly, the first step to addressing this disease is never taken. A 2011 study (Intern Med. 2011 Feb 28;171(4):316-21) found that 55% of overweight patients reported never having been told they were overweight. 34% of obese patients similarly reported no discussion of weight with their physician. When I pause to consider why such an important conversation never occurs, I can easily come up with a practical reason—we don’t have time. In the rush to connect, evaluate, and treat (in addition to document), there is little time to discuss such a personal and nuanced topic. Clearly, there are other reasons. We physicians studied Netter, anatomy, and pharmacology. We received scant lectures on nutrition and behavioral counseling. If we don’t have the time or the expertise, how can we possibly proffer a solution to our patients? Perhaps we struggle with weight ourselves and don’t feel confident holding ourselves up as models of wellness for our patients. In my conversations with colleagues, many are jaded with retail programs, cleanses, and the like. So why cite a problem for which we have no solution to recommend? “Eat less” isn’t resonating with our patients. Obesity vexes all of us in this country and I do believe that physicians can lead their patients to better health and it starts with a conversation. Next month: How to broach the topic of obesity sensitively. Editor's note: This is a SFMS guest blog. SFMS invites our physician members and industry experts to submit commentary or updates on topics of importance to San Francisco physicians and patients. These blogs are not written or edited by the San Francisco Medical Society. The authors are solely responsible for the content. Sean Bourke, MD is a Stanford-trained physician and CEO of JumpStartMD, Northern California’s largest nonsurgical medical weight management practice. A member of the SFMS and the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, Dr. Bourke has made it his goal to cure obesity, the number one cause of preventable death in the United States. Click here to read Dr. Bourke's article in the July/August issue of San Francisco Medicine about "Confronting Obesity: From Fast Food to Real Food." Comments are closed.
