Introduction :
According to The Behavioural Risk Factor Survey April 2014 in Hong Kong, there were about 39.0% of the population aged 18-64 classified as overweight (BMI 23-24.9) or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0), including 20.8% as obese in Hong Kong. A higher proportion of males (49.6%) than females (29.5%) were classified as overweight or obese. People aged 45 - 54 had the highest rate (50.5%) of overweight or obesity. Obesity is well known to be one of the metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart diseases and stroke. It also frequently co-exists with other chronic metabolic diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia [3]. Obesity also results in many psychiatric illnesses, musculoskeletal disorders and some cancers [1, 4, 5, 6]. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Huge costs are used in treating obesity and its associated illnesses [4, 6]. Hence it is of paramount importance to manage obesity. Modest weight loss of 5-10% of body weight for those with BMI in ranges 25-35 is associated with health improvement and reduced risks for cardiovascular diseases [7]. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, evidence supported losing weight at about 1 to 2 pounds per week. Patients’ weight perception is one of the motivating factors for weight control behaviours [8]. For patients to be motivated to lose weight, they need to understand the severity of their condition and its harmful consequences [8]. The discrepancy between perceived and actual weight can result in unrealistic or inefficient weight loss [9]. If patients are not aware that they are overweight, they are less likely to get involved in weight reduction. Patients’ knowledge and experiences may affect their perception and attitudes [10, 11]. Preventive care is an important part of family medicine. Family doctors are in an unique position to provide education and management of obesity before its complications happen. Knowing patients’ attitudes, perceptions and expectations is important in health care planning. There are overseas studies on patients’ attitudes and perceptions on weight [5,10, 12, 13,]. Limited local researches in this area especially in outpatient setting were available in Hong Kong. This study aims to explore the attitudes and perceptions on weight in obese patients in Hong Kong and to know their expectations towards weight management provided by primary care services.
Methodology :
This was a qualitative study in the form of one-on-one semi-structured interviews conducted from March to May 2017 in one regional general outpatient clinic in Hong Kong. Information regarding basic demographics, patients’ attitudes and perceptions towards body weight and expectations towards primary care was gathered.
Result & Outcome :
We interviewed seventeen patients until data saturation was reached. Patients showed insufficient knowledge in the definition of obesity and health hazards associated with obesity. Majority of patients perceived they were overweight or obese but there was discrepancy between actual and perceived weight. Generally they would want to lose weight. Several barriers to successful weight loss were identified: lack of awareness of definition of obesity and its related health problems, underestimation of own weight, little psychosocial impact and lack of knowledge in efficient ways to lose weight. Most patients did not expect to get help from primary physicians as they did not regard obesity as an illness and their weight problem was not severe enough to require doctors’ input and they could lose weight by themselves. They thought doctors didn’t have time to discuss it.
Co-location with:
