ABSTRACT
Despite the high prevalence of obesity, obesity is not frequently diagnosed or treated in clinical settings. Primary care providers report major barriers to addressing obesity, including lack of time, the need to discuss more important issues, and perceptions that their patients are unmotivated or uninterested in weight loss. Bias about the causes and treatment of obesity may affect the provider–patient relationship and prompt the patient to discontinue care. Lack of reimbursement constitutes a disincentive for the provision of care. Several important resources can improve the ability of providers to raise their concerns about obesity with patients, and shared decision making can enable the development of an appropriate plan for care.
