How to talk with patients about weight? Viewpoints of 1697 individuals with overweight and obesity.

Objectives: To evaluate the preferences of individuals with overweight and obesity regarding the optimal approach for discussing the excess weight during medical appointments.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted by distribution of an anonymous questionnaire in social media platforms during September 2020, aiming for respondents with body mass index over 25 kg/m.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1697 participants, mostly female. Only 14.5% agreed that the weight issue should be brought up at medical appointments, while 69.3% preferred health practitioners to ask for a preliminary agreement to talk about the excess weight. The participants were frequently advised to lose weight without them wanting to talk about this (65.0%), when the reason for their appointment was irrelevant to the excess weight (60.4%), and without receiving any effective and practical tools on losing weight (60.1%).

Conclusions: Health practitioners should ask the patient for a preliminary permission to discuss the issue of excess weight during medical appointments.

Practice Implications: Discussing the subject of weight during medical appointments should be done in a sensitive and respectful manner. Health practitioners should learn more about the numerous reasons for obesity, the adverse effects of weight stigmatization, and the practical tools to lose weight.