PHYSICIAN ATTITUDES TOWARD MANAGING OBESITY - DIFFERENCES AMONG 6 SPECIALTY GROUPS

Background: The Healthy People 2000 report recommended that physicians more actively address obesity, but little is known about current atti tudes and practices of physicians, particularly across specialty areas relevant to obesity as a medical risk factor. Methods. A mail survey of 1,222 physicians from six specialties (family practice, internal me dicine, gynecology, endocrinology, cardiology, and orthopedics) invest igated beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding obesity in relation to medical risk, management, and interest in training and other resou rces. Results. Specialty groups shared high concern for the health ris ks of moderate and morbid obesity, but distinct attitudes and patterns of practice emerged. For example, family practitioners, internists, a nd endocrinologists reported treating obesity themselves in about 50% of obese patients, which correlated with reported use of more active t reatment approaches (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001). Other groups reported inte rvening with 5 to 29% of patients, but expressed greater interest in m aking referrals. Physicians reporting ''any specialty training related to ... obesity'' ranged from 4.5% of family practitioners to 36.4% of endocrinologists. Conclusions. Physicians express high concern with m anagement of obesity but variable interest in assuming this role thems elves. Mild obesity may be particularly undertreated. Research is crit ically needed to assess effective physician roles in weight management and to support the development of physician guidelines. (C) 1997 Acad emic Press.