Excessive weight gain is a national problem. Physicians have been on the front lines of this problem for a long time now. Does this mean that physicians have not been doing their job?
The issue for doctors is the age-old problem of noncompliance. Noncompliance or poor treatment adherence is too much a reality in medicine. Doctors prescribe and patients are supposed to follow. But many times this is just not the case. Even pills that should be taken faithfully by patients, often are not. So how can doctors get their overweight patients to follow doctor’s orders? What can doctors do to help a patient get on a diet plan and adhere to the plan?
Here is a brief list of what doctors can do. See if you can add to this list.
- Don’t leave diet plan adherence to chance.
- Don’t just leave it all to the patient to do. Patients need dieting support.
- Give patients a professional resource to help them with the behavior and lifestyle changes that are always involved in the dieting and weight loss challenges.
- Prepare patients to realize that readiness for change comes way before change comes.
- Advise patients to choose a diet plan that is right for them.
- Explain that diet plan adherence can be measured in small successes. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
So our questions to you are:
- Can you add to the list of things doctors can do to help their patients adhere to their diets?
- Has your doctor helped you with your weight loss goals?
Other women would love to hear what you have to say. Please feel free to comment.
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