[How physicians and patients look at the problem of obesity]

To elicit attitude of physicians and population to the problem of obesity; to assess awareness and diagnostic and therapeutic tool.

A questionnaire survey was performed among 384 endocrinologists and 54 other medical professional in 13 cities of Russia. 1405 randomly selected citizens of Moscow (males and females) aged 18-64 years were interviewed according to the standard questionnaire on the telephone.

Opinion of the physicians. Endocrinologists think that the key factors of weight gain are the following: overeating (81%), hypodynamia (53%), heredity (36%), endocrine pathology (20%), diet rich in fat (18%). Body weight is assessed on the basis of BWI (80%), weight-height tables (38%), Brock's formula (25%), waist and hip circumferences (21%). Endocrinologists believe that obesity should be treated to improve wellbeing (75%), concomitant syndromes (53%), appearance (4%). 92% of endocrinologists recommend a low-calory diet, 82%--physical exercise, 15%--medication, 6%--food additives. Potential patients. 1/3 of city population have overweight. 1/4 of them want to lose weight. Women want to lose weight three times more frequently than men. The proportion of men and women wanting to lose weight is higher at the age group of 40-49 years. Obese subjects more frequently than subjects with normal weight want to lose weight without keeping diet (53 vs 39%) or extra physical activity (38% vs 27%). Women more frequently use methods of losing weight (both registered and unregistered).

Physicians underestimate the role of obesity in genesis of concomitant diseases, the role of high-calory diets in development of obesity. Most of potential patients have an inadequate attitude to the necessity and feasibility of weight loss, are unrealistic as to methods of losing weight and effectiveness of such methods.