Treatment of Patients With Obesity

Resources for creating a welcoming space in your practice

Obesity is a major risk factor for many prevalent and dangerous population health issues, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.

Negative attitudes and beliefs among health care professionals can lead to discrimination, suboptimal care and worse health outcomes for people with overweight or obesity. People of color with obesity may face additional stigma related to their cultural identity and race when seeking care, resulting in an even greater negative impact on healthcare access and health outcomes.

You play a critical role in not just counseling patients about healthy interventions to promote weight loss or prevent the onset of obesity, but also making them feel comfortable and welcome in your office. This page offers resources to aid your treatment of patients as you support their weight management needs.

Inside Family Medicine Podcast: CME On The Go

Earn up to 0.5 CME credits when you join our hosts as they dive into the complexities of weight loss medications, from historical perspectives to modern practices.

Obesity and Healthy Lifestyle: Clinical Guidance and Practice Resources

Evidence-based, and practical obesity and fitness resources to support your patients’ weight management needs.

References

^{1. Varney C, Hauk F. Advancing health equity: A blueprint for teaching about obesity and social justice in medical schools. In: MedEd’s Horizon: Just, Merciful, Diverse and Equitable. American Medical Association; 2023:90-91.}

^{2. Barksdale A. A method for establishing patient rapport. Fam Pract Manag. 2021;28(2):42.}