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With obesity rates going up all the time, people are trying all kinds of diets and tricks just to lose some pounds. However, most of the time, these ponds just always seem to come back, making weight loss and keeping fit an ordeal.
What most people seem to forget is that the human body is not a machine but a complex system that is different for each individual. This is why it is extremely important to talk to a health expert in order to see what the best way to lose weight and maintain our figure is.
A study that was conducted by researchers at John Hopkins shows that it is much easier to lose weight when people work with a health professional.
The researchers looked at the data collected by another study – “Opportunities for Weight Reduction Trial” which was carried out by experts at John Hopkins for two years. The study examined the way in which the patient – doctor relationship could have an impact on weight loss.
The research involved about 300 obese patients who were helped by professionals in their weight loss process. At the same time, they were constantly monitored by their primary care physicians.
They also had to answer questions related to the relationship they had with the physicians and how they felt their advice was helpful.
Even if most of them did not lose a significant amount of their body weight, it was reported that those who felt the physician’s advice helped them lost twice the amount of weight compared to the patients who felt their physician was not necessarily helpful.
Therefore, it can be said that a patient who trusts his or her physician has a much higher chance of losing weight than a person who does not seek professional help or does not have a good relationship with the health professional.
According to Dr. Wendy L. Bennet, who is a primary care physician, it is important for an overweight or obese person who wants to become fitter to find a doctor that is trustworthy, calm and empathic. The patient will then be more likely to stick to the physician’s advice, appointments and medication.
“The trial supports other evidence that providers are very important in their patients’ weight loss efforts. Incorporating physicians into future programs might lead patients to more successful weight loss”, she said.
The results of the study were published in the journal Patient Education and Counseling.
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