title: Physician-assisted weight loss and maintenance in the elderly.
abstract: Although commonly addressed in magazines, across airwaves, and within gyms nationwide, health care providers must now face the growing epidemic of obesity in their daily practice. With the graying of America, it is all the more important to realize that weight increases the risk for disease and mortality in the elderly. Despite overwhelming evidence that weight loss can reduce health risks, many patients who are overweight never receive needed advice from their primary care physicians. This article addresses the barriers to physician intervention, methods to assess obesity risk, and readiness to change. Effective approaches for assisting in successful weight loss and maintenance are discussed.
authors.affiliation: College of Health Related Professions and Donald W. Reynolds Senior Health Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham #547-13, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. jmkiehn@uams.edu
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kiehn
authors.forename: Courtney O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Ghormley
authors.forename: Erin B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015431:Weight Loss