Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Volume 88, Issue 2 , Pages 151-156, May 2010

Patient perspectives on the role of weight management in type 2 diabetes

  • William H. Polonsky

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA
    • Behavioral Diabetes Institute, San Diego, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: PO Box 2148, Del Mar, CA 92014, USA. Tel.: +1 760 525 5256; fax: +1 760 942 5780.
    • ,
  • Lawrence Fisher

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
    • ,
  • Danielle Hessler

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA

Received 7 January 2010; accepted 11 February 2010. published online 08 March 2010.

Abstract 

Aims

To examine issues of weight misperception, perceived importance of weight management, and patient reports of their HCP's weight-related recommendations among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

575 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes completed a survey that assessed perceptions about weight management and discussions with HCP's about weight issues.

Results

Among patients with BMI>30, weight misperception was rare (<10%) and perceived importance of weight loss common (>85%). Among overweight patients with BMI<30, weight misperception was more common (47%) and importance of weight loss was endorsed less frequently (68%). Most patients reported that HCP's had advised weight loss (72%) and discussed weight issues at most visits (59%). However, recommendations from HCP's were rarely specific. Few were informed by HCP's that certain diabetes medications might make weight management difficult. Weight misperception was less common, importance of weight loss was more common and weight management efforts were more frequent when HCPs discussed these issues directly.

Conclusions

Most overweight patients with type 2 diabetes recognize the importance of weight management. Patient reports indicate that HCP's are actively engaged in promoting weight loss and that their recommendations, when specific, are associated with patients’ more frequent weight management efforts.

Keywords: Weight misperception, Weight management, Type 2 diabetes, Obesity

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PII: S0168-8227(10)00084-7

doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2010.02.008

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Volume 88, Issue 2 , Pages 151-156, May 2010

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