Physicians' discussions about body weight, healthy diet, and physical activity with overweight or obese elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlates of physician-patient discussions about body weight, healthy diet, and physical activity.


METHODS
Subjects were 635 adults (≥65 years; mean 72.8 years) who had an increased body mass index (BMI≥25 kg/m2) and participated in a self-administered community survey. Logistic regression analyses were performed.


RESULTS
While approximately half of study participants reported having discussed healthy diets (51%) and physical activity (52%) with their physician, only 42% of those who were overweight or obese reported being recognized as such by their physician. Being moderately or severely obese, more chronic conditions, and more frequent physician visits increased the likelihood of being recognized as overweight or obese and reporting lifestyle discussions.


CONCLUSIONS
The health care provider is important in recognizing older patient's weight problems and discussing practical lifestyle changes. Tools for more proactive screening and implementation of follow-up behavioral counseling can help the health care providers better address obesity prevention in clinical practice.
School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA. sahn@memphis.edu
SangNam
S
Ahn
Matthew Lee
ML
Smith
Marcia G
MG
Ory
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003376:Counseling; D003625:Data Collection; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012044:Regression Analysis