Preferred language regarding overweight and obesity in general practice: a survey of predominantly rural Australian adults
Kristen Glenister A D , Cynthia A. Opie B and Julian Wright C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A The University of Melbourne, Department of Rural Health, ‘The Chalet’, Docker Street, Wangaratta, Vic. 3677, Australia.
B Echuca Regional Health, Research Department, 226 Service Street, Echuca, Vic. 3564, Australia.
C The University of Melbourne, Department of Rural Health, 49 Graham Street, Shepparton, Vic. 3632, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: kristen.glenister@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 24(5) 391-397 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY18023
Submitted: 1 February 2018 Accepted: 28 May 2018 Published: 29 August 2018
Abstract
Discussions regarding overweight may be infrequent in Australian general practice. General practitioners (GPs) may find these discussions difficult to initiate if they are unsure of the language to use, or if patients would find it acceptable to be weighed. Overweight and obesity are more prevalent in rural areas than in metropolitan areas, and strategies to address the health risks associated with these conditions need to be tailored to rural communities. The aims of this study were to identify the language preferred by an Australian adult sample with a range of body sizes, to assess acceptability of routine weight measurement by GPs, and to assess potential influence of gender, body size and rurality on these preferences. A questionnaire was distributed through the authors’ informal networks using email and social media. Australian adults were eligible to participate. Respondents (n = 771) were predominantly female, health professionals and resided in rural areas. The preferred language was weight neutral (‘weight’) or linked to health (‘your weight may be damaging your health’, ‘you are above your healthy weight range’). Preferred language appeared to be influenced by gender and body size but not rurality. Most respondents (76%) would find it acceptable to be weighed regularly by their GP.
Additional keywords: preventative health services, primary health care, rural health, rural health services.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2015) National health survey 2014–2015. (ABS: Canberra, ACT, Australia) Available at http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4364.0.55.0012014-15?OpenDocument [Verified 5 July 2018]Australian Government (2016) Modified Monash Model suburb and locality classification - home care subsidy. (Department of Health, Ageing and Aged Care: Canberra, ACT, Australia) Available at https://agedcare.health.gov.au/funding/aged-care-fees-and-charges/modified-monash-model-suburb-and-locality-classification-home-care-subsidy [Verified 5 July 2018]
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2016) Australia’s Health 2016. Australia’s health series number 15, Catalogue number AUS 199. AIHW, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Bacon S (2013) Central adiposity. In ‘Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine’. (Eds MD Gellman, JR Turner) pp. 368–369. (Springer: New York, NY, USA)
Bonney A, MacKinnon D, Barnett S, Mayne D, Dijkmans-Hadley B, Charlton K (2017) A mixed-methods feasibility study of routinely weighing patients in general practice to aid weight management. Australian Family Physician 46, 928–933.
Dutton GR, Tan F, Perri MG, Stine CC, Dancer-Brown M, Goble M, Van Vessem N (2010) What words should we use when discussing excess weight? Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 23, 606–613.
| What words should we use when discussing excess weight?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
El-Sherbiny NA, Mashahit MA, Sheir RE (2014) Assessment of public awareness about body measurements among Fayoum population. Health 6, 42686
| Assessment of public awareness about body measurements among Fayoum population.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Glenister KM, Malatzky C, Wright J (2017) Barriers to effective conversations regarding overweight and obesity in regional Victoria. Australian Family Physician 46, 769–773.
Gray CM, Hunt K, Lorimer K, Anderson AS, Benzeval M, Wyke S (2011) Words matter: a qualitative investigation of which weight status terms are acceptable and motivate weight loss when used by health professionals. BMC Public Health 11, 513
| Words matter: a qualitative investigation of which weight status terms are acceptable and motivate weight loss when used by health professionals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Halbert CH, Jefferson M, Melvin CL, Rice L, Chukwuka KM (2017) Provider advice about weight loss in a primary care sample of obese and overweight patients. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health 8, 239–246.
| Provider advice about weight loss in a primary care sample of obese and overweight patients.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harris PA, Taylor R, Thielke R, Payne J, Gonzalez N, Conde JG (2009) Research electronic data capture (REDCap) – a metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. Journal of Biomedical Informatics 42, 377–381.
| Research electronic data capture (REDCap) – a metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hart J, Yelland S, Mallinson A, Hussain Z, Peters S (2016) When is it ok to tell patients they are overweight? General public’s views of the role of doctors in supporting patients’ dieting and weight management. Journal of Health Psychology 21, 2098–2107.
| When is it ok to tell patients they are overweight? General public’s views of the role of doctors in supporting patients’ dieting and weight management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kyle TK, Puhl RM (2014) Putting people first in obesity. Obesity 22, 1211
| Putting people first in obesity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lombard CB, Harrison CL, Kozica SL, Zoungas S, Keating C, Teede HJ (2014) Effectiveness and implementation of an obesity prevention intervention: the HeLP-her Rural cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health 14, 608
| Effectiveness and implementation of an obesity prevention intervention: the HeLP-her Rural cluster randomised controlled trial.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McLaren L (2007) Socioeconomic status and obesity. Epidemiologic Reviews 29, 29–48.
| Socioeconomic status and obesity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
National Health and Medical Research Council (2013) Summary guide for the management of overweight and obesity in primary care. National Health and Medical Research Council, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
National Rural Health Alliance (2013) Obesity in rural Australia. National Rural Health Alliance, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Potter MB, Vu JD, Croughan-Minihane M (2001) Weight management: what patients want from their primary care physicians. The Journal of Family Practice 50, 513–518.
Puhl R, Peterson JL, Luedicke J (2013) Motivating or stigmatizing? Public perceptions of weight-related language used by health providers. International Journal of Obesity 37, 612–619.
| Motivating or stigmatizing? Public perceptions of weight-related language used by health providers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Puhl RM, Himmelstein MS, Armstrong SC, Kingsford E (2017) Adolescent preferences and reactions to language about body weight. International Journal of Obesity 41, 1062–1065.
| Adolescent preferences and reactions to language about body weight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pursey K, Burrows TL, Stanwell P, Collins CE (2014) How accurate is web-based self-reported height, weight, and body mass index in young adults? Journal of Medical Internet Research 16,
| How accurate is web-based self-reported height, weight, and body mass index in young adults?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sharma AM, Campbell-Scherer DL (2017) Redefining obesity: beyond the numbers. Obesity 25, 660–661.
| Redefining obesity: beyond the numbers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Swift JA, Choi E, Puhl RM, Glazebrook C (2013) Talking about obesity with clients: preferred terms and communication styles of UK pre-registration dieticians, doctors, and nurses. Patient Education and Counseling 91, 186–191.
| Talking about obesity with clients: preferred terms and communication styles of UK pre-registration dieticians, doctors, and nurses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tailor A, Ogden J (2009) Avoiding the term ‘obesity’: an experimental study of the impact of doctors’ language on patients’ beliefs. Patient Education and Counseling 76, 260–264.
| Avoiding the term ‘obesity’: an experimental study of the impact of doctors’ language on patients’ beliefs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tham M, Young D (2008) The role of the General Practitioner in weight management in primary care – a cross sectional study in General Practice. BMC Family Practice 9, 66
| The role of the General Practitioner in weight management in primary care – a cross sectional study in General Practice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas SL, Hyde J, Karunaratne A, Herbert D, Komesaroff PA (2008) Being ‘fat’ in today’s world: a qualitative study of the lived experiences of people with obesity in Australia. Health Expectations 11, 321–330.
| Being ‘fat’ in today’s world: a qualitative study of the lived experiences of people with obesity in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turner LR, Harris MF, Mazza D (2015) Obesity management in general practice: does current practice match guideline recommendations? The Medical Journal of Australia 202, 370–372.
| Obesity management in general practice: does current practice match guideline recommendations?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vasko AL (2010) Male and female language in Cambridgeshire: differences and similarities. In ‘Studies in Variation, Contacts and Change in English. Vol. 4 – Cambridgeshire Dialect Grammar’. (Eds P Rayson, S Hoffmann, G Leech) (University of Helsinki: Helsinki, Finland) Available at http://www.helsinki.fi/varieng/series/volumes/04/index.html [Verified 6 July 2018]
Volger S, Vetter ML, Dougherty M, Panigrahi E, Egner R, Webb V, Thomas JG, Sarwer DB, Wadden TA (2012) Patients’ preferred terms for describing their excess weight: discussing obesity in clinical practice. Obesity 20, 147–150.
| Patients’ preferred terms for describing their excess weight: discussing obesity in clinical practice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
