Table 5.

Consultation and Recommendations from GPs for Obese Patients

Consultation and recommendations
Information on weight regulation, energy intake, and output balance.
Weight reduction is difficult; 95% of people fail to benefit from weight reduction programs.
Define realistic goals (e.g., maximally 5% loss of body weight) because overoptimistic goals are discouraging. For many people, it is a better option to accept being overweight than to fail permanently in dietary programs.
Define behavior changes (eating behavior, physical activity) that can be maintained for months or even years.
Avoid cycles of restraint eating and overeating; try to adopt a stable eating behavior pattern.
Do plan more physical activity as precise as possible (When? What? Who can support you? What are possible motivational barriers? How can they be overcome?).
In case of increased genetic risk (e.g., ≥50% of parents and siblings are overweight):
Inform patient about the heredity of obesity (twin studies).
Inform patient about molecular transmission of obesity-relevant genes.
If obesity is inherited, patients should not feel guilty because of being overweight.
Realistic goals (see above) are more important.