brand logo

Am Fam Physician. 2024;109(4):372-373

Clinical Question

Is a framework that highlights the benefits of weight loss better than one that highlights the risks of excessive weight when suggesting weight loss to patients?

Bottom Line

Presenting weight loss as an opportunity is a better approach than scolding patients for their weight. Framing weight loss in terms of its positive effects, rather than listing the risks of excessive weight, increased weight loss and participation in a weight-loss program. (Level of Evidence = 2b)

Synopsis

The study evaluated conversations between clinicians and participants in a study of brief interventions to motivate patients to lose weight. The 246 recorded conversations were coded by three authors to determine the valence of the initial information from clinicians by categorizing it as good news, bad news, or information that was provided neutrally. When the clinician began the discussion by offering weight loss as an opportunity or by asserting the benefits of weight loss, especially in an enthusiastic manner, participants were more likely to agree to attend a weight-loss program, actually attend the program, and lose more weight (an average of 3.62 kg [7.98 lb]) than when the solicitation was delivered in neutral terms or by listing the harms of excessive weight.

Already a member/subscriber?  Log In

Subscribe

From $165
  • Immediate, unlimited access to all AFP content
  • More than 130 CME credits/year
  • AAFP app access
  • Print delivery available
Subscribe

Issue Access

$59.95
  • Immediate, unlimited access to this issue's content
  • CME credits
  • AAFP app access
  • Print delivery available
Purchase Access:  Learn More

POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters) are provided by Essential Evidence Plus, a point-of-care clinical decision support system published by Wiley-Blackwell. For more information, see http://www.essentialevidenceplus.com. Copyright Wiley-Blackwell. Used with permission.

For definitions of levels of evidence used in POEMs, see https://www.essentialevidenceplus.com/Home/Loe?show=Sort.

To subscribe to a free podcast of these and other POEMs that appear in AFP, search in iTunes for “POEM of the Week” or go to http://goo.gl/3niWXb.

This series is coordinated by Natasha J. Pyzocha, DO, contributing editor.

A collection of POEMs published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/poems.

Continue Reading

More in AFP

More in PubMed

Copyright © 2024 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.