title: [Representations, behavior and obesity].
abstract: Dealing with a long term chronic disease necessarily implies changes of behaviour. In the field of obesity, these behaviours concern habits which are very often firmly fixed in patients' lives. The study of patients' representations is of great interest in the medical field. Representations guide behaviours and therefore build up an important factor which determines the adherence to the treatment. Representations always have a foundation and making them rise up induces a non-judge-mental attitude. The health care provider can help the patient make them evolve. It must be highlighted that health care providers' representations are also important, particularly in the therapeutic relationship. This article proposes a reflection on the obese patients follow-up situation as well as some clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Service d'enseignement thérapeutique pour maladies chroniques, Département de médecine communautaire et de premier recours, HUG, Genève.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barthassat
authors.forename: Grégoire
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lagger
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golay
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012803:Sick Role