Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity

Ian D Caterson; Assim A Alfadda; Pernille Auerbach; Walmir Coutinho; Ada Cuevas; Dror Dicker; Carly Hughes; Masato Iwabu; Jae-Heon Kang; Rita Nawar; Ricardo Reynoso; Nicolai Rhee; Georgia Rigas; Javier Salvador; Paolo Sbraccia; Verónica Vázquez-Velázquez; Jason C G Halford

doi:10.1111/dom.13752

Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity

Ian D Caterson, Assim A Alfadda, Pernille Auerbach, Walmir Coutinho, Ada Cuevas, Dror Dicker, Carly Hughes, Masato Iwabu, Jae-Heon Kang, Rita Nawar, Ricardo Reynoso, Nicolai Rhee, Georgia Rigas, Javier Salvador, Paolo Sbraccia, Verónica Vázquez-Velázquez, Jason C G Halford

Norwich Medical School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

108 Citations (Scopus)

43 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

AIMS: Despite increased recognition as a chronic disease, obesity remains greatly underdiagnosed and undertreated. We aimed to identify international perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and barriers to effective obesity care in people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs).

METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 11 countries. Participants were adults with obesity and HCPs primarily in direct patient care.

RESULTS: 14,502 PwO and 2,785 HCPs completed the survey. Most PwO (68%) and HCPs (88%) agreed that obesity is a disease. However, 81% of PwO assumed complete responsibility for their own weight loss and only 44% of HCPs agreed that genetics were a barrier. There was a median of 3 (mean 6) years between the time when PwO started struggling with excess weight or obesity and when they first discussed their weight with an HCP. Many PwO were concerned about the impact of excess weight on health (46%) and were motivated to lose weight (48%). Most PwO (68%) would like their HCP to initiate a conversation about weight and only 3% were offended by such a conversation. Among HCPs, belief that patients have little interest/motivation for weight management may constitute a barrier for weight management conversations. When discussed, HCPs typically recommended lifestyle changes; but more referrals and follow-up appointments are required.

CONCLUSIONS: Our international dataset reveals a need to increase understanding of obesity and improve education on its physiological basis and clinical management. Realisation that PwO are motivated to lose weight offers an opportunity for HCPs to initiate earlier weight management conversations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1914-1924
Journal	Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism
Volume	21
Issue number	8
Early online date	29 Apr 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13752
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2019

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10.1111/dom.13752

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Cite this

Caterson, I. D., Alfadda, A. A., Auerbach, P., Coutinho, W., Cuevas, A., Dicker, D., Hughes, C., Iwabu, M., Kang, J-H., Nawar, R., Reynoso, R., Rhee, N., Rigas, G., Salvador, J., Sbraccia, P., Vázquez-Velázquez, V., & Halford, J. C. G. (2019). Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 21(8), 1914-1924. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13752

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title = "Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity",

abstract = "AIMS: Despite increased recognition as a chronic disease, obesity remains greatly underdiagnosed and undertreated. We aimed to identify international perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and barriers to effective obesity care in people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs).METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 11 countries. Participants were adults with obesity and HCPs primarily in direct patient care.RESULTS: 14,502 PwO and 2,785 HCPs completed the survey. Most PwO (68%) and HCPs (88%) agreed that obesity is a disease. However, 81% of PwO assumed complete responsibility for their own weight loss and only 44% of HCPs agreed that genetics were a barrier. There was a median of 3 (mean 6) years between the time when PwO started struggling with excess weight or obesity and when they first discussed their weight with an HCP. Many PwO were concerned about the impact of excess weight on health (46%) and were motivated to lose weight (48%). Most PwO (68%) would like their HCP to initiate a conversation about weight and only 3% were offended by such a conversation. Among HCPs, belief that patients have little interest/motivation for weight management may constitute a barrier for weight management conversations. When discussed, HCPs typically recommended lifestyle changes; but more referrals and follow-up appointments are required.CONCLUSIONS: Our international dataset reveals a need to increase understanding of obesity and improve education on its physiological basis and clinical management. Realisation that PwO are motivated to lose weight offers an opportunity for HCPs to initiate earlier weight management conversations.SPONSOR: Novo Nordisk. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.",

author = "Caterson, {Ian D} and Alfadda, {Assim A} and Pernille Auerbach and Walmir Coutinho and Ada Cuevas and Dror Dicker and Carly Hughes and Masato Iwabu and Jae-Heon Kang and Rita Nawar and Ricardo Reynoso and Nicolai Rhee and Georgia Rigas and Javier Salvador and Paolo Sbraccia and Ver{\'o}nica V{\'a}zquez-Vel{\'a}zquez and Halford, {Jason C G}",

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Caterson, ID, Alfadda, AA, Auerbach, P, Coutinho, W, Cuevas, A, Dicker, D, Hughes, C, Iwabu, M, Kang, J-H, Nawar, R, Reynoso, R, Rhee, N, Rigas, G, Salvador, J, Sbraccia, P, Vázquez-Velázquez, V & Halford, JCG 2019, 'Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity', Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, vol. 21, no. 8, pp. 1914-1924. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13752

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gaps to bridge: Misalignment between perception, reality and actions in obesity

AU - Caterson, Ian D

AU - Alfadda, Assim A

AU - Auerbach, Pernille

AU - Coutinho, Walmir

AU - Cuevas, Ada

AU - Dicker, Dror

AU - Hughes, Carly

AU - Iwabu, Masato

AU - Kang, Jae-Heon

AU - Nawar, Rita

AU - Reynoso, Ricardo

AU - Rhee, Nicolai

AU - Rigas, Georgia

AU - Salvador, Javier

AU - Sbraccia, Paolo

AU - Vázquez-Velázquez, Verónica

AU - Halford, Jason C G

PY - 2019/8/1

Y1 - 2019/8/1

N2 - AIMS: Despite increased recognition as a chronic disease, obesity remains greatly underdiagnosed and undertreated. We aimed to identify international perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and barriers to effective obesity care in people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs).METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 11 countries. Participants were adults with obesity and HCPs primarily in direct patient care.RESULTS: 14,502 PwO and 2,785 HCPs completed the survey. Most PwO (68%) and HCPs (88%) agreed that obesity is a disease. However, 81% of PwO assumed complete responsibility for their own weight loss and only 44% of HCPs agreed that genetics were a barrier. There was a median of 3 (mean 6) years between the time when PwO started struggling with excess weight or obesity and when they first discussed their weight with an HCP. Many PwO were concerned about the impact of excess weight on health (46%) and were motivated to lose weight (48%). Most PwO (68%) would like their HCP to initiate a conversation about weight and only 3% were offended by such a conversation. Among HCPs, belief that patients have little interest/motivation for weight management may constitute a barrier for weight management conversations. When discussed, HCPs typically recommended lifestyle changes; but more referrals and follow-up appointments are required.CONCLUSIONS: Our international dataset reveals a need to increase understanding of obesity and improve education on its physiological basis and clinical management. Realisation that PwO are motivated to lose weight offers an opportunity for HCPs to initiate earlier weight management conversations.SPONSOR: Novo Nordisk. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

AB - AIMS: Despite increased recognition as a chronic disease, obesity remains greatly underdiagnosed and undertreated. We aimed to identify international perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and barriers to effective obesity care in people with obesity (PwO) and healthcare professionals (HCPs).METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 11 countries. Participants were adults with obesity and HCPs primarily in direct patient care.RESULTS: 14,502 PwO and 2,785 HCPs completed the survey. Most PwO (68%) and HCPs (88%) agreed that obesity is a disease. However, 81% of PwO assumed complete responsibility for their own weight loss and only 44% of HCPs agreed that genetics were a barrier. There was a median of 3 (mean 6) years between the time when PwO started struggling with excess weight or obesity and when they first discussed their weight with an HCP. Many PwO were concerned about the impact of excess weight on health (46%) and were motivated to lose weight (48%). Most PwO (68%) would like their HCP to initiate a conversation about weight and only 3% were offended by such a conversation. Among HCPs, belief that patients have little interest/motivation for weight management may constitute a barrier for weight management conversations. When discussed, HCPs typically recommended lifestyle changes; but more referrals and follow-up appointments are required.CONCLUSIONS: Our international dataset reveals a need to increase understanding of obesity and improve education on its physiological basis and clinical management. Realisation that PwO are motivated to lose weight offers an opportunity for HCPs to initiate earlier weight management conversations.SPONSOR: Novo Nordisk. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

U2 - 10.1111/dom.13752

DO - 10.1111/dom.13752

M3 - Article

C2 - 31032548

VL - 21

SP - 1914

EP - 1924

JO - Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism

JF - Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism

SN - 1462-8902

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