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July 18, 2007Pediatricians Say Advice to Obese Kids and Families Falls on Deaf Ears |
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From EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Pediatricians who talk to obese patients and their families about losing weight feel their conversation makes little difference in encouraging a lifestyle change, a small Saint Louis University study finds. "Pediatricians feel as if their efforts are futile," says Sarah Barlow, M.D., the lead author of the study who also is an associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and pediatric obesity specialist at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. "Doctors believe successful patients are motivated before they come to the door," Dr. Barlow says. "If clinicians can build on media attention and work to create motivation ahead of the visit and if they are prepared to provide answers to the families' questions about healthy eating and activity practices, then clinicians may see more behavior change. Other members of large households may undermine the parent's control over the child's food, and families may not have access to healthy food in their neighborhoods," Dr. Barlow says. Doctors identified obese children using standard height and weight charts instead of body mass index (BMI), which is a mathematically computed height/weight ratio that correlates with their amount of body fat. "It's a missed opportunity for these doctors to help address weight problems early on," Dr. Barlow says.
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