Putting prevention into practice: counseling patients to prevent and decrease obesity

The number of obese and overweight Oklahomans and Americans has grown both steadily and rapidly in the last few decades. Along with this increase in weight, doctors now see a higher proportion of chronic, degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and osteoarthritis. Poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and poor stress and time management contribute to weight problems and illness. Lifestyle changes have no side effects or risks, other than the perceived challenge of implementing and maintaining them. Healthier habits offer multiple organ system benefits including weight control, less anxiety and depression, improved energy, better sleep, and lower rates of gastrointestinal problems, such as reflux, gallstones, and fatty liver. By providing accurate and comprehensible information, doctors can motivate and support patients to better safeguard their health and manage their weight. This article will suggest specific phrases to use in the framework of motivational interviewing, as discussed in the first article, Part I, in this 3-part series.