In a recent study published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine on November 7, 2023, researchers have discovered that presenting weight loss treatment as a positive opportunity to patients with obesity can significantly enhance their engagement with treatment and lead to more substantial weight loss. The study, conducted by Charlotte Albury, D.Phil., affiliated with the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, examined the impact of language used during clinical visits on patient weight loss within a diverse cohort.
Albury and her colleagues conducted a mixed-methods cohort study at 38 primary care clinics throughout England, delving into the relationship between the language employed by healthcare providers and the weight loss outcomes of their patients. The study comprised 246 patients with obesity who were under the care of 87 general practitioners randomly selected from the intervention group of a clinical trial. Conversational analyses were performed on recorded discussions regarding the potential referral of patients to a behavioral weight management program.
The research team discerned three distinct approaches related to the linguistic and paralinguistic practices of clinicians: framing referrals as “good news,” emphasizing the positive aspects of the referral opportunity; presenting them as “bad news,” with a focus on the adverse consequences of obesity; or adopting a neutral approach (with 62, 82, and 102 instances, respectively). Notably, presenting referrals as “good news” was associated with a notable increase in patients’ willingness to attend the weight management program and their actual attendance (adjusted risk differences of 0.25 and 0.45, respectively). Furthermore, this approach also yielded a significant impact on weight reduction, with an adjusted difference of -3.60 kg relative to the neutral approach. Conversely, there was no significant evidence of differences in mean weight change when comparing the “bad news” approach with the neutral approach, and patient satisfaction remained consistent across all three approaches.
As the study authors observed, “Patients have reported that clinicians’ words and tone matter to them and can motivate or demotivate weight loss.” This research underscores the significance of framing weight loss treatment in a positive light, which not only increases patient engagement but also leads to more successful outcomes in the battle against obesity. It highlights the potential for healthcare providers to employ language as a powerful tool in promoting healthier lifestyles and improved well-being among patients.
