Table 3.

Guidance on how to initiate a conversation around obesity with a patient

Avoid	Try instead
I'm sure the problems you've had are all related to your weight	Would you mind if we spoke about your weight? Where do you think you're at?
You're a bit on the chunky side shall we say?	Some people with your symptoms find that losing a bit of weight and a little exercise can be useful.
Ideally your BMI, which is your height in relation to your weight, should be somewhere between 18 and 25... between 30 and 35 you're considered clinically obese... from the measurements that you've had done today, you certainly fall into that category.	And as you said, your weight's crept up a bit... You said you'd like to lose some weight because you're feeling quite breathless...

BMI = body mass index.