Obesity-related conditions are believed to kill more than 300,000 Americans every year. Weight loss can only be achieved with a healthy, sensible diet and exercise. Yet, only 25 percent of medical schools teach courses in nutrition. And since obesity is a sensitive issue for some patients, doctors may not feel competent or comfortable giving weight loss advice. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found less than half of all obese patients were advised by their physicians to lose weight.
Workshops help doctors understand how it feels to be overweight.
While wearing the suit, doctors try to exercise. The extra effort needed to move around in the weighted suit gives doctors a better understanding of the problems facing overweight people. In other classes, doctors learn about exercise, nutrition, lifestyle changes, and use of medications to help patients lose weight. The group hopes to expand the program to other hospitals and medical schools sometime in the future. The information on this factsheet is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your physician or with another healthcare professional.