GPs Cite Lack Of Patient Motivation As The Top Barrier To Weight Loss, Survey Finds

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 12 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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In the year that saw the UK top the European league table for obesity in women, a new survey shows that GPs still believe that they are losing the fight against obesity.1

According to the survey of 202 GPs conducted by Taylor Nelson, 60 per cent said that they encourage the majority of obese patients to lose weight.1 However, over half reported feeling that their efforts were unsuccessful.1 Worryingly, just 1 per cent felt they were completely successful in supporting their patients' weight loss attempts.1

Lack of patient motivation and unchanging behaviour driving failure

The survey highlighted that over half of the GPs surveyed attributed lack of motivation of the patient to change their behaviour as the key factor limiting their ability to support patients to lose weight.1 Overall behavioural factors including lack of exercise, eating unhealthy foods and overeating were identified as key barriers and were consistently ranked as more significant than non-behavioural factors, such as lack of nutritional knowledge and or insufficient ongoing support from healthcare professionals for patients.1

Behavioural change at the core of weight-loss success

Although 93 per cent of the GPs surveyed recognised behavioural change as 'very important' in helping patients to lose weight successfully, only 19 per cent reported providing behavioural change support to all patients attempting to lose weight. In December 2006, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the treatment of obesity which emphasised the role that behavioural change should play in obesity management.2

The GPs surveyed cited lack of resources and funding as reasons for not providing patients with this behavioural change support.1

Dr Colin Waine, Chairman of the National Obesity Forum, commented: "These findings highlight that GPs are playing an active role in the fight against obesity, and are well aware of the hurdles that obese patients face when trying to lose weight. Primary care organisations need to utilise all the resources and support available in order to maximise efforts and help people to change their behaviour. There is good evidence that web-based support services are extremely effective in helping to keep patients motivated between GP visits and encourage weight loss."

Behavioural change support: change for life

To help GPs tackle obesity and support their patients, Abbott has developed an online resource. Change for life offers healthcare professionals advice on setting up special obesity services, including information on crucial resources, running patient group sessions and protocol for running one-to-one support sessions. The service is also available to their patients to track their progress. For more information, log on and register at http://www.changeforlifeonline.com.

Clinical evidence supports combination approach

The survey also highlighted that 47 per cent of GPs said that they believed a combination behavioural change and other weight loss methods is the most successful way of helping their patients to lose weight.1 Clinical trials have shown that treating patients with pharmacotherapy can help to achieve and sustain significant weight loss when provided in conjunction with support to encourage behavioural change.3

References

1. Survey of 202 UK-based general practitioners conducted by independent market research firm, Taylor Nelson, on behalf of Abbott.
2. National Institute of Clinical Excellence, Obesity Guidelines, December 2006, Please click here.
3. Wadden, T.A. et al. New England Journal of Medicine 2005; 353(20):2111-20.

About the survey

The survey was conducted on the internet by Taylor Nelson on behalf of Abbott. The sample included 202 GPs from practices across the UK.

Changing behaviour for long-term weight loss

The change for life coaching programme helps people to identify their specific eating behaviours and the physical, emotional and lifestyle issues that contribute to them. Change for life was developed by a team of qualified medical experts and can be accessed 24 hours a day. As well as stepby- step guidance and education, change for life provides several unique online tools to help people to change their behaviour, lose weight and keep it off. There are three section of the site: a general public area available to everyone, an area available only to patients taking pharmacotherapy to aid weight loss, and a further section of the site provided to assist healthcare professionals in helping their obese and overweight patients to lose weight.

http://www.changeforlifeonline.com

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs 65,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries