It seems like simple common sense that as levels of obesity rise, so too should the weight counselling sessions that are available. But according to new research even though the number of overweight and obese Americans has increased over the past twenty years, the weight counselling offered by doctors has actually decreased to fewer than 1 in 15 office visits.
A team of researchers from Penn State College of Medicine analysed the outpatient records from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from the years 1995-1996 and 2007-2008. The results from that period showed that patients had 46 percent lower odds of receiving weight counselling — happening in only 6.2 percent of visits in that year — despite the fact that the number of adults who were overweight or obese increased from 52.1 percent in 1995 to 63.3 percent in 2008.
The findings, which were published in the journal Medical Care, additionally indicated that fewer than one in three obese patients were given recommendations on how to lose weight. Also, those with high blood pressure were 46 percent less likely to receive counselling, and diabetes patients were 59 percent less likely.
The reasons for the drop are not yet completely clear. The researchers suggested that doctors may not feel they have adequate training to make such recommendations or time limitations during appointments don’t allow for detailed conversation about exercise, nutrition, diet, and other lifestyle approaches aimed at weight loss.
Obesity is a growing problem in America and throughout the world and as such the medical establishment needs to catch up and be prepared to offer overweight and obese people the support that they need. Until doctors are ready to offer more weight loss counselling to people, the problem will only get worse.
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