Slim chance of motivating obese

Doctors are finding it difficult to motivate obese people to lose weight through diet and exercise, a survey has found.

The study by the Hong Kong Doctors' Union says obese patients are more likely to comply with instructions to take medicine than to hit the treadmill or diet.

Union president Dr Henry Yeung Chiu-fat said this was not a healthy attitude to weight loss. Doctors were finding it hard to get people to follow an exercise and diet programme on its own, but were having more success with a 'three-pillars' approach incorporating dietary advice, exercise and medication, he said.

Doctors prescribe medication mainly for high-risk patients, such as those suffering hypertension or diabetes. If people want drugs, Dr Yeung said, they should approach their doctor, rather than buy over-the-counter medication, which could have life-threatening side effects.

'Patients may not know or understand many of the side effects of over-the-counter drugs,' he said.

'These drugs act mainly on the central nervous system and can bring about anything from insomnia to anorexia to cardiovascular disorders.'

Dr Yeung also warned that over-the-counter medication was more likely to be abused, as there was no professional to monitor intake.

The Doctors' Union polled 166 doctors, mostly private practitioners. The survey also found that only 43 per cent of obese people sought medical advice. Those who did wanted to lose weight mainly for cosmetic reasons.

'What is worrying is that as many as 60 per cent of obese people do not seek medical advice,' Dr Yeung said. 'These patients could develop obesity-related diseases, such as hypertension. We also hope that people will seek to lose weight for health and well-being rather than looking beautiful - only with health can beauty be useful.'