Before I help patients develop a personalized weight management plan, I want to better understand each person’s weight journey, that is, how they got to where they are today.
Since no two patients are alike, providing personalized obesity care requires knowing more about each patient’s personal struggles, resources and life stressors.
However, in the midst of a busy practice, this can be challenging.
I have a technique I use where I ask patients to plot their weight at different times of their life.
This is called the Life Events Weight Graph, which is a tool discussed in my latest book for healthcare professionals, Patient-Centered Weight Management: The Six Factor Professional Program and Toolkit.
For most patients, they are able to recall associated life events that influenced their body weight. Here are some common examples:
- going away to college
- getting married
- starting a new job
- relocating
- getting pregnant
- having children
- suffering an illness or injury
- having a sick child
- losing a job
- becoming an empty nester
- caring for an aging parent
- getting a divorce
- going through menopause
- having a death in the family
- starting a new medication
Although the recorded weights may just be estimates, the effect of the life event and pattern of weight change is recalled by the majority of patients I see.
This Life Events Weight Graph exercise can be quite revealing.
In one place, clinicians get a snapshot of their patient’s personal weight journey, which fosters discussion.
“Life getting in the way” is different for different individuals.
Here are 3 ways using this tool can foster a more positive patient-clinician relationship:
1-It Helps Clinicians Express Empathy
Empathy is understanding a patient’s feelings and perspectives without judging, blaming or criticizing.
This is an important aspect of motivational interviewing and an essential component of patient-centered obesity care.
2- It Fosters Patient Self-Awareness
This exercise helps patients better understand how their life struggles have impacted their weight and health.
During obesity care counseling, patients are asked to share what’s working and what’s hard for them.
Often, life stressors may reappear and provide a blueprint for targeted behavioral and mindset treatment that directly address the challenges an individual is facing.
3 – It Sets the Stage for Shared Decision Making
Shared decision making is at the core of effective obesity care counseling.
This involves clinicians and patients deliberating together on shared evidence and informed by each patient’s values and preferences.
The process builds on a caring and therapeutic patient encounter.
If you’re looking for time-saving counseling tips and tools to provide personalized obesity care, check out my latest book, Patient-Centered Weight Management.
RK
Robert Kushner, MD
