title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of public sector primary health care physicians of rural north karnataka towards obesity management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypertension (HTN). In an era of rapidly growing prevalence of obesity, it is important to explore the current knowledge, attitude, and practices of primary care physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants were medical officers (MOs) of primary health centers in three districts of North Karnataka. The questionnaire was developed by a review of literature in the field and validated with five participants for scope, length, and clarity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the 102 participants, only 15% were aware about the burden of obesity in India. HTN, DM, and CVD were indicated as comorbidities by 73, 78, and 60 participants, respectively. Only 25 and 12 participants indicated appropriate body mass index (BMI) cut-off values for overweight and obesity diagnosis. Of the 102 participants, 54 were not aware of the guidelines for obesity management. Practices and attitudes of the participants were encouraging. Nearly all of them felt that the adults with BMI within the healthy range should be encouraged to maintain their weight and, three-fourth of them agreed that most overweight persons should be treated for weight loss and small weight loss can achieve major medical benefit. However, nearly half of the participants' responses were stereotypical as they felt only obese and overweight with comorbidities should be treated for weight loss. Two-thirds of them use BMI to diagnose overweight/obese and nearly all of them advice their patients to increase physical activity and restrict fat. Most of the participants were advising their patients to restrict sugar intake, increase fruits and vegetable consumption, reduce red meat, and avoid alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present study exposed the lack of knowledge regarding obesity. However, practices and attitudes of the participants were promising. There is a need of in-service training to MOs to further improve their knowledge and practices towards management of obesity.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, KLE University's, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors: Manjunath S
authors: MS
authors: Somannavar
authors: Department of Medicine, KLE University's, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors: Jayaprakash S
authors: JS
authors: Appajigol
keywords: Attitude; knowledge; obesity; practices; primary care physicians
references: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Nov;93(11 Suppl 1):S9-30
references: 18987276
references: Obes Res. 2000 Sep;8(6):459-66
references: 11011913
references: JAMA. 1999 Oct 27;282(16):1576-8
references: 10546698
references: Fam Med. 1993 Jun;25(6):401-2
references: 8349062
references: Addict Behav. 1983;8(3):287-95
references: 6666693
references: Lancet. 1996 Aug 10;348(9024):358-63
references: 8709733
references: Fam Pract. 1999 Jun;16(3):250-4
references: 10439978
references: Prev Med. 1997 Jul-Aug;26(4):542-9
references: 9245677
references: Obes Res. 2005 Apr;13(4):787-95
references: 15897489
references: Indian Heart J. 2002 Jan-Feb;54(1):59-66
references: 11999090
references: Am J Prev Med. 1987 Nov-Dec;3(6):339-45
references: 3452374
references: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002 Oct;26(10):1393-7
references: 12355337
references: Br J Gen Pract. 1991 Apr;41(345):147-50
references: 1817470
references: Obes Rev. 2008 Mar;9 Suppl 1:53-61
references: 18307700
references: J Korean Med Sci. 2005 Feb;20(1):1-6
references: 15716593
references: BMJ. 2004 Apr 3;328(7443):807-10
references: 15070638