Obesity--as seen by the patient and his family

Competence to treat obesity will become necessary for many physicians, particularly general practitioners (GPs), once new treatment strategies including drug treatment regimens and combinations have been adopted. This report describes the development of a training tool consisting of a videotape in five sections, an audience-driven interactive keypad system and a slide programme. These components can be combined in different ways and used for various audiences such as physicians, students and healthcare workers, but also for patients and relatives. The programme could also be used to assess educational progress. Seeing, in a realistic way, the situation of the obese patient and his environment may make physicians more willing to realise their commitment towards this group of patients whose needs for support and recognition have generally been neglected by the medical profession.