A stern word from the doctor used to be the go-to prescription for anyone looking to lose a few pounds.
But it turns out that doctors should avoid calling their patients fat if they want to help them lose weight, a study suggests.
Patients are more likely to lose weight if their doctor gives them advice in an optimistic tone – with little mention of obesity, body mass index or weight as a problem.
Researchers at the University of Oxford found that people lost the most weight when obesity treatments were presented as good news and an “opportunity” rather than highlighting the negative consequences of obesity.
Patients are more likely to lose weight if their doctor gives them advice in an optimistic tone – with little mention of obesity, body mass index or weight as a problem.
They were less likely to participate in programs and lose weight if doctors emphasized the negative consequences of obesity or used neutral language.
Patient encounters were analyzed across 38 GP surgeries in England, with recordings of 87 GPs talking to patients about a free 12-week weight loss programme.
Researchers assessed whether the language used during the appointment had an impact on patient behaviors, including program participation and weight loss outcomes.
These exchanges were then classified into three categories: “good news”, “bad news” and “neutral”.
Those who used the good news approach communicated in a positive and optimistic manner, focused on the benefits of weight loss, and presented the weight loss program as an opportunity.
These doctors rarely mentioned obesity, body mass index or weight as a problem, according to findings published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Others highlighted the “problem” of obesity – focusing on the challenges of weight control, with rhetoric that conveyed regret and pessimism.
Neutral information – the most frequently observed – lacked positive or negative characteristics.
Those who followed the good news counseling approach lost the most weight, losing an average of 10.6 pounds (4.8 kg) in 12 months, compared to 6 pounds (2.7 kg) in the group. bad news and 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg) among neutrals.
The researcher suggested this was likely due to the higher rate of people signing up for the 12-week weight loss program, 87 percent, compared to less than half in the other groups.
They said the findings “could significantly change the way healthcare professionals approach conversations with patients.”
Dr Charlotte Albury, lead author and researcher at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford, said it showed the importance of positivity.
She said: “What we found was that when doctors framed the conversation as ‘good news’ – highlighting the benefits and opportunities of weight loss in a positive way – patients were more likely to enroll in a weight loss program, attend more sessions, and, above all, lose more weight compared to neutral or negative framing.
“We know that words matter, and this research shows that they really do, in the short and long term.
“Overall, our research shows that subtle changes in communication can significantly influence patient outcomes one year later.”
“The elements that constituted the ‘good news’ were subtle but had a clear and positive impact.”
WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?
Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy foods, ideally whole grain based, according to the NHS.
• Eat at least 5 servings of varied fruits and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables count
• Base your meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy foods, ideally whole grain.
• 30 grams of fiber per day: This is equivalent to eating all of the following: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 whole-wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of whole-wheat bread and a large baked potato with skin
• Consume dairy products or alternatives to dairy products (such as soy drinks) choosing low-fat and low-sugar options.
• Eat beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 servings of fish each week, one of which is fatty)
• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consume them in small quantities.
• Drink 6 to 8 cups/glasses of water per day
• Adults should consume less than 6 g of salt and 20 g of saturated fat for women or 30 g for men per day.
Source: Guide to NHS feeders
