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When it comes to weight problems, we are eager to try everything: diets, pills, exercise, programmed sleep, special cures, large quantities of water, alternative programs, even prayer to make the gods look in our direction and give us a helping hand in managing our weight issues. When everything else fails, we relate to the higher powers even for these, seemingly shallow but very delicate matters, as they can drive us to depression lack of confidence in our power and appearance and ultimately, the feeling that we don’t fit in. Either at a physical level or a mental one.
As scientists state, a doctor’s help is highly necessary to recover from many difficult situations. We need doctors to prescribe antibiotics for infection, to recommend special treatments and at a more general level, guide us towards better health.
Even if we are driven to take weight loss as an independent endeavor, a new study suggests that a doctor’s support can lead to greater efficiency for our efforts.
The study has involved a number of obese patients, helped in their weight loss endeavor by health coaches, supervised by their primary care physician. At the end of the trial, patients filled out surveys that contained questions about their relationship with the primary care physician. They were asked how often their providers offered a clear explanation for the process, showed respect, listened carefully and how helpful their physician’s involvement was through the trial.
Almost all the patients who rated their physicians higher for support have lost on average 6 pounds more than patients who rated their doctors lower. Although the general weight loss rates were modest, those who spoked about their primary care physician with words of praise, lost about twice as many pounds as participants who did not benefit from strong support.
A conclusion to this study would be that primary care physicians should pay a more central role in weight loss programs.
Although we are inclined to show extreme independence when we embark on programs that should help us lose weight, most of the times, specialized support offers better chances for success. A physician always holds insightful information in its hands and manages to help us understand the exact reasons why we should follow a certain path of treatment.
A „quality patient-doctor relationship marked by good communication, empathy, collaboration, and trust is linked to better adherence to doctoral advice, medication schedules, and appointment keeping”.
Image Source: pixabay.com
