Patient perception of obesity versus physician documentation of obesity: A quality improvement study

This study evaluates the relationship between patient perception of obese weight and physician documenta tion of obesity. This quality improvement observational study surveyed patients of an academic internal medicine clinic on their perception of obesity. Responses were compared to longitudinal physician documentation of obesity and body mass index (BMI). A total of 59.9% of patients with obesity perc eived their weight as obese. While 33.7% of patients with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 kg/m2 perceived themselves as having obesity, 71.4% of patients with a BMI of 45 to 49.9 kg/m2 perceived themselves as having obesity. A total of 42.4% of patients with obesity had physician documentation of obesity in the last year. While 25% of patients with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 kg/m2 had physician documentation of obesity, 85.7% of patients with a BMI of 45 to 49.9 kg/m2 had physician documentation of obesity. For patients with a BMI ≥50 kg/m2, 52.9% perceived their weight to be obese and 76.5% had physician documentation of obesity in the last year. Both patient perception and physician documentation of obesity were significantly less than the prevalence of obesity. Patient perception of obesity and provider documentation of obesity increased as BMI increased until a BMI ≥50 kg/m2. Both patients and providers must improve recognition of this disease.

Source: Clinical Obesity - February 27, 2019 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Authors: George Mawardi, Elizabeth B. Kirkland, Jingwen Zhang, Devin Blankinship, Marc E. Heincelman, Andrew D. Schreiner, William P. Moran, Samuel O. Schumann Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research