Weight reduction in the clinical setting represents a major investment of time and effort on the part of the health care team and expense to the patient. For these reasons, motivation for weight loss should be relatively high before initiating clinical therapy. At the same time, it is the duty of the primary care practitioner to heighten a patient's motivation for weight loss when such is perceived to be of significant benefit for risk reduction. This can be done by enumerating the dangers associated with persistent obesity and by describing the strategy for clinically assisted weight reduction. Sustained weight reduction may facilitate control of cardiovascular risk factors and delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Patient motivation is a key component for success in a weight loss program.
Assessment of the patient's motivation for treatment by the practitioner is important in the decision to initiate a weight loss program. This may include having to pay for travel to the medical facility, time lost from work, and paying for professional counseling that is not covered by insurance. Reviewing patients' past attempts at weight loss and explaining how the new treatment plan will be different can encourage patients and provide hope for successful weight loss. It is helpful to discuss the proposed course of treatment and describe necessary behaviors, such as keeping diaries of food intake and physical activity. A patient who has shared feelings about being overweight and previous attempts to lose weight with a sympathetic listener may be more willing to consider new ideas and information.