Objectives: This study tries to synthesize recent research that has explored the beliefs, attitudes and practices of health professionals about obesity. Method: The words "healthcare physicians, obesity, beliefs, attitudes, intervention, referral practices, counselling, general practitioners, advices, competency, knowledge and stigma" were entered in databases such as PubMed, Elsevier and PsycINFO. Twenty studies were found from 1999 trough 2009 and included in analyses. Results: Physicians are negative about their own role in obese treatment. Although they believed it was part of their job to advise obese patients on the health risks of obesity, the majority of doctors thought they had not made any difference in getting their patients to make long term changes in lifestyle. They are sceptical about the effectiveness of available interventions and only few doctors refer patients to behaviour therapy or to obesity surgery. Conclusions: This issue should be taken in account during physicians' education and in planning multidisciplinary teams of intervention in obesity, because physical doctors should be aware of how their own beliefs and attitudes will influence their behavior on the managing of obesity, compromising therefore the adherence and the successful in obesity treatment. Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore psychosocial and cultural values related to dietary and physical activity practices of Asians and Pacific Islanders (API) with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Content analysis was conducted with information collected from focus groups that totaled 15 men and women of API descent, ages 18-76, participating in "The Study of Cognitive Behavioral Interventions in Diabetes Self-Management," project. Focus group discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed for categories and themes using the social ecological framework. NVivo 8 computer software was utilized for management of data. Results: Psychosocial themes related to dietary practices included depression, denial, happiness, self-control, and awareness of complications. Cultural values related to eating, such as upbringing, social events, food variety, food portions, and reciprocity were identified. Underlying medical and physiological conditions limited physical activities of some participants in the study.