Physician bias toward obese patients may damage patient care: 5 insights

Physicians may possess “attribution biases,” viewing obese patients as lazier, dumber and more worthless than thin patients, based on studies cited in a Stat article, according to Medscape.

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Here are five insights:

1. This focus on patients’ weight may cause physicians to overlook more pressing problems, negatively impacting the physician-patient relationship.

2. Obese patients are at a greater risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

3. The article noted one survey of more than 700 women at risk for heart disease. Of those 700 women, only 16 percent were notified of heart disease risk by their physicians.

4. Physicians told the majority of the 700 women that they should lose weight, despite the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute not mentioning weight as a factor in a person’s 10-year risk assessment for having a heart attack.

5. Of the women surveyed, about half reported they had cancelled or delayed physician visits so they could lose weight.

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