Mayo Clinic physicians have identified that simply being
diagnosed as obese increases a patient's likelihood of establishing
a treatment plan with their physician, a crucial step in improving
health.
It's a significant finding, because obesity is a growing
worldwide epidemic and the second leading cause of preventable
death in developing countries, said Mayo physicians.
Published in the August issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the
article reveals that an obesity diagnosis is the strongest
predictor of obesity management.
Mayo Clinic physicians evaluated the records of 2,543 obese
patients treated over a one-year period. Only one in five patients
had their obesity documented and a disease management plan made,
the study's authors say. But those patients who were diagnosed as
obese had a 2.5 times higher chance of forming a weight loss
management plan than if they hadn't been diagnosed.
Warren Thompson, a Mayo Clinic internist from the Department of
Preventive Medicine, says physicians should be more proactive in
discussing obesity with their patients and patients should initiate
the conversation if their weight concerns them.
That can be far-reaching for improving the health of those
living with obesity, which is a risk factor for diabetes and
cardiovascular diseases. Even a small reduction in an obese
person's weight improves quality of life, reduces morbidity and
results in lower health care use and medical costs.
(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2007)