Patient Attitudes toward Weight Related Discussions in Rural Appalachian Primary Care Clinics

West Virginia (WV) consistently has one of the highest rates of obesity, nationally, yet previous studies suggest that conversations about weight with providers are infrequent. This study's aim was to determine frequency and type of weight-related discussions occurring in WV primary care clinics and whether discussions differed according to weight status.

A cross-sectional survey was completed by patients in rural primary care practices. Participants answered questions related to demographics, obesity related illnesses, experience receiving a physician mediated discussion, and attitude and beliefs related to weight.

Among the total of 490 surveys collected, a little more than half of the participants (56.9%) have discussed weight with their physician; a majority of participants (89.5%) thought a physician should tell risks associated with an unhealthy weight; 78.3% participants felt weight loss is important to them; 86.1% participants believed weight affects their health. Participants with obesity were more likely than participants who are overweight to discuss weight with their physician (71.8 vs.44.0%, p<0.0001), and believed that their physicians helped them lose weight previously (29.4% vs 9.9%, p<0.0001) and can help them lose weight in the future (92.9% vs. 71.1, p<0.0001).

Physicians are often having weight related discussions with patients with obesity however this discussion happens less with overweight patients. Practitioners may want to be more attentive to addressing weight related issues in overweight patients.