Physician Personal Characteristics and Obesity Treatment Plan Study

Abstract

Obesity is a very common finding in the primary care physician's office; however, physicians do not always treat obese patients according to guidelines. This investigation examined the possible relationships between a physician's personal weight history, anti-obesity bias, and the proposed treatment plan for an obese, hypertensive patient. Fifty-five Family Medicine, twenty-one Internal Medicine, and five “Other” Family or Internal Medicine Subspecialty physician participants viewed a video featuring either a hypothetical female or male patient with stage I hypertension and obesity (with a BMI of 32.) Of the total 81 physician participants, only 33 completed the entire study. Of these, 79.4% had attempted weight loss in their lifetime, with 55.9% having attempted weight loss in the past year. Median physician BMI was 25, with a small standard deviation of 2.7. Mean obesity bias score was 50.6 (out of possible 117, the maximum value reflecting the most anti-obese attitudes,) with a standard deviation of 19.7. Among all 81 participants, weight loss was in the three highest-ranked treatment recommendations in 90.9% of physician participants. Only 21.2% recommended all four JNC- 6 recommended components of lifestyle change. 93.9% recommended the initiation of a drug during this diagnostic visit. Statistical significance was not achieved in relating physician personal characteristics such as weight history to treatment recommendations due to the low number of participants completing all study measures.