In the year that saw the UK top the European league table for obesity in women, a
new survey shows that GPs still believe that they are losing the fight against
obesity.1

According to the survey of 202 GPs conducted by Taylor Nelson, 60 per cent said
that they encourage the majority of obese patients to lose weight.1 However, over
half reported feeling that their efforts were unsuccessful.1 Worryingly, just 1 per
cent felt they were completely successful in supporting their patients’ weight loss
attempts.1

Lack of patient motivation and unchanging behaviour driving failure

The survey highlighted that over half of the GPs surveyed attributed lack of
motivation of the patient to change their behaviour as the key factor limiting their
ability to support patients to lose weight.1 Overall behavioural factors including
lack of exercise, eating unhealthy foods and overeating were identified as key
barriers and were consistently ranked as more significant than non-behavioural
factors, such as lack of nutritional knowledge and or insufficient ongoing support
from healthcare professionals for patients.1

Behavioural change at the core of weight-loss success

Although 93 per cent of the GPs surveyed recognised behavioural change as ‘very
important’ in helping patients to lose weight successfully, only 19 per cent reported
providing behavioural change support to all patients attempting to lose weight.
In December 2006, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
issued guidance on the treatment of obesity which emphasised the role that
behavioural change should play in obesity management.2

The GPs surveyed cited lack of resources and funding as reasons for not
providing patients with this behavioural change support.1

Dr Colin Waine, Chairman of the National Obesity Forum, commented: “These
findings highlight that GPs are playing an active role in the fight against obesity,
and are well aware of the hurdles that obese patients face when trying to lose
weight. Primary care organisations need to utilise all the resources and support
available in order to maximise efforts and help people to change their behaviour.
There is good evidence that web-based support services are extremely effective in
helping to keep patients motivated between GP visits and encourage weight loss.”

Behavioural change support: change for life

To help GPs tackle obesity and support their patients, Abbott has developed an
online resource. Change for life offers healthcare professionals advice on setting
up special obesity services, including information on crucial resources, running
patient group sessions and protocol for running one-to-one support sessions. The
service is also available to their patients to track their progress. For more
information, log on and register at changeforlifeonline.

Clinical evidence supports combination approach

The survey also highlighted that 47 per cent of GPs said that they believed a
combination behavioural change and other weight loss methods is the most
successful way of helping their patients to lose weight.1 Clinical trials have shown
that treating patients with pharmacotherapy can help to achieve and sustain
significant weight loss when provided in conjunction with support to encourage
behavioural change.3

References

1. Survey of 202 UK-based general practitioners conducted by independent
market research firm, Taylor Nelson, on behalf of Abbott.
2. National Institute of Clinical Excellence, Obesity Guidelines, December 2006,
Please click here.
3. Wadden, T.A. et al. New England Journal of Medicine 2005; 353(20):2111-20.

About the survey

The survey was conducted on the internet by Taylor Nelson on behalf of Abbott. The sample included 202 GPs from practices across the UK.

Changing behaviour for long-term weight loss

The change for life coaching programme helps
people to identify their specific eating behaviours and the physical, emotional and
lifestyle issues that contribute to them. Change for life was developed by a team
of qualified medical experts and can be accessed 24 hours a day. As well as stepby-
step guidance and education, change for life provides several unique online
tools to help people to change their behaviour, lose weight and keep it off. There
are three section of the site: a general public area available to everyone, an area
available only to patients taking pharmacotherapy to aid weight loss, and a further
section of the site provided to assist healthcare professionals in helping their
obese and overweight patients to lose weight.

changeforlifeonline

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery,
development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical
products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs
65,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries