Lifestyle modification is foundational to all obesity care.
This applies even to those taking the newer, highly effective obesity medications.
Though the disease of obesity is complex, lifestyle modification can be simplified and should be targeted.
One size does not fit all.
This is the basis of my Six Factor approach to managing weight and the topic of my 2 complementary books:
- For individuals struggling with weight: Six Factors to Fit: Weight Loss that Works for You!
- For clinicians: Patient-Centered Weight Management: The Six Factor Professional and Toolkit
In a nutshell, here are some highlights of my Six Factor Program, designed for personalized patient care:
1-It Empowers Individuals through Self-Identification
Through my research, I recognized 6 distinct factors that reflect the most important features of lifestyle health behaviors that can be self-identified and linked to obesity.
Within minutes of taking my short scientifically-validated Six Factor Questionnaire (a feature of both books), individuals see which lifestyle, coping or mindset behaviors have been holding them back from achieving successful weight loss and improved health.
Three of the six factors reflect challenges related to eating and physical activity behavioral patterns:
- Convenient Diner
- Easily Enticed Eater
- Exercise Struggler
The other three factors target mindset and coping style, which can ultimately determine long-term success:
- Fast Pacer
- Self-Critic
- All-or-Nothing Doer
When individuals review the Six Factor Questionnaire results, they feel acknowledged, understood, and empowered to take action.
A common response is: “That’s me!”
2-It Arms Clinicians (and their Patients) with Targeted Treatment Tools and Handouts
Patient-Centered Weight Management offers camera-ready assessment tools and factor-specific, patient treatment handouts – downloadable in both English and Spanish.
These educational handouts help patients modify diet, physical activity, health behaviors and mindset to achieve better health and improve weight management outcomes.
These handout recommendations use evidence-based strategies that are extensively reviewed and cited in the references for each of the 6 factors.
The era of telling all patients generic advice to “follow 1 best diet” or to “eat less and move more” is over.
3-It Emphasizes Shared Decision Making and Team-Based Care
No one professional has to shoulder all the responsibility or have all of the answers.
Obesity is a complex disease and requires team-based care.
Both books outline how and when to access various team members:
- Primary care professionals
- Registered dietitian nutritionists
- Exercise specialists
- Health psychologists
- Obesity medicine specialists
- Bariatric surgeons
If you’re an individual looking for a therapeutic guide to support your weight management efforts, check out Six Factors to Fit: Weight Loss that Works for You!
If you’re a clinician looking to help patients improve weight management outcomes and achieve better health, check out Patient-Centered Weight Management.
RK
Robert Kushner, MD
