Pediatricians who talk to obese patients and their families about losing weight feel their conversation makes little difference in encouraging a lifestyle change, a small Saint Louis University study finds.
"Pediatricians feel as if their efforts are futile," says Sarah Barlow, M.D., the lead author of the study who also is an associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and pediatric obesity specialist at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.
"Despite their best efforts to provide families with good advice, doctors find families lack the motivation or are so overwhelmed with the stresses of daily life that they don't attempt to attack weight problems by eating healthier and exercising more."
Findings were based on face-to-face interviews with eight St. Louis area pediatricians from diverse backgrounds and practice settings.
Those families who changed what they ate and how much they exercised typically came to appointments with a desire to lose weight and already were motivated to change their behavior.
"Doctors believe successful patients are motivated before they come to the door," Dr. Barlow says.
"If clinicians can build on media attention and work to create motivation ahead of the visit and if they are prepared to provide answers to the families, questions about healthy eating and activity practices, then clinicians may see more behavior change. Office visits need to get away from doctors saying ,Here's the problem, here's what you need to do, goodbye until next year."
It's difficult to change patterns of behavior, Dr. Barlow acknowledges.