Physicians' political party affiliation and clinical management of obesity

Studies have documented that few patients with obesity receive evidence-based care. One provider characteristic that may impact clinical obesity care, but that has been under studied to date, is political party affiliation. This study sought to evaluate how primary care physicians (PCPs) report managing patients with obesity and assess whether there are differences between Democratic and Republican PCPs. This was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey of 225 PCPs registered to vote as Democrats or Republicans in 29 US States. After reading a patient vignette, the PCPs reported the following outcomes: likelihood of documenting obesity in the medical record; likelihood of discussing obesity with the patient; and likelihood of engaging in eight different obesity management options. Almost all PCPs reported they would document obesity in the medical record (Republican = 97.6%, Democrat = 94.3%) and discuss it further (Republican = 95.2%, Democrat = 92.2%). Among eight obesity management options, PCPs were least likely to say they would prescribe medication (3.9%) or refer the patient to counselling (24.0%), regardless of political affiliation. Republicans were more likely to report that they would inquire about the time course of obesity (73.4% v. 56.2%, P = 0.012) and discuss health risks of obesity (91.0% vs 78.3%, P = .018). Republican and Democratic PCPs report some differences in managing patients with obesity, suggesting that political beliefs may play a role in some clinical care.