Consulting Obese and Overweight Patients for Nutrition and Physical Activity in Primary Healthcare in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary and physical activity counseling provided to adults by family doctors. Predictors of counseling in primary healthcare were identified. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2021 among 896 adult primary care patients in the city of Łódź [Lodz], Poland. Almost 36% of the respondents were advised to change their eating habits, and 39.6% were advised to increase their physical activity. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, people in poor health with chronic diseases related to overweight and obesity and with two, three or more chronic diseases, respectively, received advice on eating habits from their GP twice and three times more often than people in good health with no chronic conditions (OR = 1.81; p < 0.05 and OR = 1.63; p < 0.05; OR = 3.03; p < 0.001). People in the age groups 30–39 years and 40–49 years (OR = 1.71; p < 0.05 and OR = 1.58; p < 0.05), widowed (OR = 2.94; p < 0.05), with two, three or more chronic diseases (OR = 1.92; p < 0.01 and OR = 3.89; p < 0.001), and subjectively assessing overweight and obesity (OR = 1.61; p < 0.01) had a better chance of receiving advice on physical activity. The study found a higher proportion of advice on diet and physical activity provided to overweight and obese patients by primary care physicians than in other studies; however, still not all receive the necessary counseling. GPs should advise all patients not to become overweight and obese, not only those already affected by the problem.

Nurse-led lifestyle counseling in Polish primary care: the effect of current health status and perceived barriers

“…The questionnaire was created by specialists and was validated in a previous large study ( 41 ). A survey was also conducted among GPs and patients, the results were presented in the other articles ( 42 – 44 ).…”

The Frequency of Tobacco Smoking and E-Cigarettes Use among Primary Health Care Patients—The Association between Anti-Tobacco Interventions and Smoking in Poland

“…Inclusion criteria: people over 18 years of age who consulted a doctor in primary care and agreed to participate in the study. The methodology, the study sample and the examined region are given elsewhere [ 28 ]. The study design was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Medical University of Lodz (on 18 September 2018; RNN/315/18/ KE).…”

“…The answer “always” related to advice given at each visit to a family doctor. The answer “sometimes” indicated less than 50% of all medical appointments in primary care, and “often” as 50% or more medical appointments in primary care [ 28 ].…”

Reflexiones de la prescripción de ejercicio físico en la consulta del médico familiar

“…En algunos estudios se muestra que a medida que aumenta la exposición a redes sociales en temas de nutrición, ejercicio y salud, también lo hace el riesgo de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, imagen y adicción al ejercicio; sin embargo, podemos fortalecer esta situación sirviéndonos de la adecuada orientación con consejería desde la consulta de primer contacto, buscando información pertinente en sitios confiables para combatir la infodemia, así como una valoración multidisciplinaria con expertos en cada temática permitiendo cambiar esta realidad 27 .…”

“…Znyk et al 27 demostraron que los médicos ofrecieron al 36% de los participantes cambiar sus hábitos dietéticos y al 39% realizar actividad física, pero generalmente ofrecían estas recomendaciones a pacientes que ya contaban con sobrepeso u obesidad, recalcando que debería ofrecerse a todos independientemente de su constitución corporal, para evitar desenlaces adversos.…”