Physician-supported Weight Loss results depend on relationship with the doctor

The study team analyzed the records for 347 obese patients.

The Practice-based Opportunities for Weight Reduction, or POWER study was conducted over a period of two years.

63 percent of the study subjects were women.

Patients who gave their doctors the highest ratings on helpfulness during the trial lost an average of 11 pounds, compared to just over 5 pounds for patients who gave their doctors the lowest helpfulness ratings.

Bennett said that incorporating physicians into future programs might lead patients to more successful weight loss. Generally, Medicare and other insurance providers do not cover the cost for physician aided weight loss program. When the trial reached its conclusion, the participants completed surveys that are filled with questions about their connection with their primary care doctors. Based on this data the scientists analyzed the way in which the relationship between patient and doctors could influence weight loss efforts. However, earlier studies have also found better results for physician-guided weight loss programs. The patients were surveyed and asked about their relationship with the physician under whose guidance they were trying to shed the extra weight.

Researchers are hopeful that these findings could help develop weight loss programs that are more focused on primary care physicians. The popular weight loss or diet control programs are having millions of members and the companies are generating billions of dollars in revenue each year.

This is an important study as recent National Institutes of Health statistics suggest that more than one-third (which is almost one half) of all adults in the United States are obese.

Bennett also said that it is established that doctor-patient link could provide empathy, good interaction, cooperation and trust which further boosts the chances that the patients will take their prescribed medicines, hold medical appointments and at the end will have better results.

A research that compared the impact of doctors’ support on patients’ weight loss attempts found that those who received the most support from their doctors lost more weight than those whose doctors were less helpful.