Opening the Obesity Conversation in Primary Care
To start, it requires appreciation of the sensitive nature of discussions around obesity and weight loss, says well-known obesity expert Donna H. Ryan, MD.
Primary care providers often have little training in how to work with patients with obesity. We asked Donna Ryan, MD, Professor Emerita, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, and current president of the World Obesity Federation, for a short guide on how to sensitively open the conversation about weight loss with a patient.
Dr Ryan also is associate editor of the journal Obesity. She has been an investigator for various US National Institutes of Health-sponsored studies, including Pounds Lost, DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), DPP (Diabetes Prevention Program) and the Look AHEAD study. Dr. Ryan’s continuing interests focus on translation of effective weight management into primary care practices.
Other videos featuring Dr Ryan
Online and Other Options for Weight-loss Support
Weight Reduction Risk While Sheltering in Place
Obesity and COVID-19: Very Dangerous Together
