In today’s society, it has become unacceptable to comment on someone’s weight, and it has never been more difficult for medical professionals to tackle obesity. This is despite the fact that obesity statistics have never been higher in the United States.
If you are a doctor, physician, or other healthcare professional who is struggling to talk to your patients about their weight, the below strategies are just what you need to get started and feel more confident breaching this sensitive topic.
Prepare a Welcoming Environment
The first thing you need to do, and this is something that many healthcare professionals forget, is create an environment that is inclusive of all your patients. This means making your waiting room and consultation rooms suitable for people who are overweight.
Think carefully about the furniture that you choose, as well as any equipment such as weighing scales and examination tables, which may need to be adapted to suit their bespoke needs.
Address Your Patient’s Health Concerns First
You should always address your patient’s health concerns before you bring up their weight, as otherwise, they are likely to feel attacked and unheard. This can make them less receptive to your suggestions.
Once you have dealt with their main concerns and offered advice and/or treatment, you can now move on to discussing any concerns that you have.
Ask for Permission to Talk About Their Weight
If you want your patient to feel at ease and be honest with you, it can be a good idea to ask their permission to talk about their weight. For example, you could ask, “Would it be ok if we talk about your weight today?”
If your patient agrees, you may want to ask them how they feel about their weight. If they say that they don’t want to talk about their weight, it is important that you respect their wishes.
Create a Long-Term Weight Management Plan
Short-term fixes are never the answer when it comes to weight loss, so make sure you talk to your patients about a long-term weight management plan. You may want to set SMART goals for lifestyle changes, as these can help them to stay on track and keep their motivation levels high.
As part of their weight loss management plan, you may want to discuss medications and/or procedures, such as weight loss injections from Divinity Aesthetics, which can be highly effective when used alongside healthy eating habits and regular physical activity.
Make Suggestions for Healthier Lifestyle Choices
Rather than lecture your patients on the dangers of being overweight or obese, it can be much more beneficial to make suggestions on how they can improve their current lifestyle. For example, talk to them about how to make healthier food choices or how they can incorporate more physical activity into their daily lives.
Also, talk to them about how they can monitor their progress and overcome any challenges that are holding them back from reaching their goals.
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