Physiotherapy communication approaches in management of obesity and overweight

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Physiotherapists have an important role in encouraging individuals to increase their levels of physical activity and give advice on having a healthy diet. Obesity can be seen in a musculoskeletal clinic where eg knee pain could be exacerbated or in a medical ward where a patient's diabetes may be poorly managed. Despite the various health care professions’ efforts to tackle the issue, obesity is still on the rise and considered a global epidemic.[1] A reason for this could be that underlying causes of obesity and overweight may not have been fully taken into account in previous interventions.[2] Communication is a huge part of tackling obesity and there are many approaches of communication eg motivational interviewing assists physiotherapists to facilitate behaviour change with patients who are struggling with this issue.

Understanding Obesity[edit | edit source]

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Obesity and overweight are defined as "abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.[3] Obesity increases the chances of developing secondary diseases, causing huge problems worldwide as health care demands increase and people's lifestyles become more sedentary and unhealthy. Physiotherapists will come across obesity and its related secondary effects in all areas of healthcare, which means interventions and treatments may need to be adapted to manage these patients effectively.[3] [4] The World Health Organization[3] defines levels of obesity and overweight through the Body Mass Index (BMI) scale ie BMI = body weight (kg) ÷ height (m)2.

BMI is not always the most reliable method of measuring body fat.[5] Other ways of measuring this more reliably include:

  • Waist circumference ('obese' is classed as 80cm in females and over 94cm in males)
  • Waist to hip ratio- this measures distribution of body fat
  • Skin fold thickness
  • Bio-impedance- this measures the impedance of a small electric current as it passes through the body[6]

Implications of Obesity[edit | edit source]

There are many implications of obesity worldwide. Obesity increases the risk of many long-term health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, hypertension, cancer, stroke, liver problems, respiratory problems, sleep issues, mental health disorders and, overall, may cause a reduced quality of life.[7] People with obesity also have an increased risk of falls.[8]
With the rising obesity epidemic and reduced staffing, funding and resourcing within the NHS, the demands on the health service will increase. This could ultimately lead to reduced quantity and quality of care. Obesity also contributes to wider financial problems such as more increasing cost of welfare support and loss of output within the economy.[9] Obese patients who have been affected by an injury or have undergone surgery have an increased recovery period. This results in an increased length of hospital stay which adds more pressure on the health service due the increased demand for hospital beds. Obesity places further pressures upon the NHS’s resources with the increase use of and demand for bariatric equipment.[10]

Factors Contributing to Obesity[edit | edit source]

There are many different contributing factors to obesity. Amongst all the possible contributing factors, research highlights the following three main factors that contribute to obesity. These three factors are prevalent within physiotherapy practice causing an increased demand for physiotherapy intervention.[11] 

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Due to the high prevalence of these factors amongst overweight people, it is essential to take these factors into consideration when carrying out physiotherapy assessments, and when problem lists and treatment plans are being formulated. For example, this might include a higher level of awareness of how to communicate with these patients.

Socio-Economic Status[edit | edit source]

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Socio-economic status is a large factor influencing obesity. In a study conducted in 2009, of 12,000 children and teenagers aged between 2 – 19 years, levels of high obesity were around 1.7 times greater in those from a deprived area, than those in a non-deprived area.[12] There are many areas within this topic that effect people in various different ways such as:

  • [13]Socioeconomic status refers to a person’s position compared to other people’s personalities, this has contributed to putting people into certain categories allowing evaluation of discrimination between these public categories.[14]
  • The accessibilities of food shops and the number of services that allow physical activity influence the levels of obesity.[14] [13] [15] [16]
  • Akil and Ahmad[11] show the highest obesity levels are mostly found within the people who: Earn the least; Are not taught to a high level about obesity and health aspects; Are not educated to a high level in general; and have access to unhealthier foods, being less expensive and more instantly available within deprived areas.
  • Overall, a huge factor contributing to obesity is the economic status of people and the type of environment they live in.[11]
  • The MRC National Survey of Health and Development showed that BMI was directly connected with educational success in both sexes. Highest obesity levels were found in people with the least academic achievements. 11% of men with O-grade level achievements had a BMI above 30, whereas, only 5% of men’s BMI were over 30 when they were at degree level of attainment. The same result showed within females as well- correspondingly 15% and 4%.[17] The evidence and guidelines explain this is a large contributing factor to obesity.[18]
  • By recognising this problem at the beginning of physiotherapy interventions, physiotherapists will be able to adapt their approaches to become more relevant to the individual’s circumstances. Physiotherapists can also assist in giving the individual advice or guidance if certain socio-economic factors are contributing to obesity.

Mental Health[edit | edit source]

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Mental health includes our social and psychological well-being. It affects and can determine how we react to events, how we handle stress, and how we feel and relate to others. Early signs of mental health problems are:

  • Eating too much
  • Reduced interest in social activities
  • Having low energy[19]

There is a lack of research in establishing a definite cause-and-effect relationship between obesity and mental health disorders (such as depression and anxiety).[20] However, it has been observed that a link could exist between these variables and individuals, meaning they more vulnerable to mental health issues and obesity.[21] 
The Obesity Action Coalition[22] states that it is thought that the two could be strongly linked or that they at least co-exist, however it has not been established which one comes first- for example whether obesity increases onset of developing depression, or having depression increases the chances of developing obesity.
Depression, in most cases, can be quite debilitating, therefore decreasing an individual’s motivation to take part in exercise or other physical or social activities. Depression can also result in a person believing they should not be taking care of themselves, and so may not follow a healthy well-balanced diet. These factors can lead to increased chances of developing obesity.[22]

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the longitudinal relationship between depression and overweight and obese patients was conducted by Luppino.[23]

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It was observed that obesity did increase the onset of depression. Another study by Bogart[21] showed that, in America, 50% of women with a BMI > 30kg/m2 developed depression over their lifetime, however, these results were not replicated with men. This might be due to higher sensitivity levels that women have and the stigma the media conveys about small sizes and beauty.[24]

Puhl and Heuer[20] describe further research that has been carried out around the stigma of obesity and depression. Several studies suggest that childhood experiences have a strong link in the development of obesity and depression.[20] [22]

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Studies show that the onset of either obesity or depression (or both) is strongly linked to childhood experiences- either for being mocked about their weight which might lead to poor body image, reduced self-worth and depression, or for having experienced unresolved life events like bereavement that might develop into obesity in later stages of life.[25] [20]
 
However, it is important to consider that a person with underlying mental issues may have increased body weight due to the type of medications they are receiving.[22] A study supported a strong link between schizophrenia and depression and obesity, where results showed that metabolic risk factors can almost be double in those suffering from schizophrenia.[26]

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Additional mental health factors impact the way physiotherapists carry out assessments and treatments of overweight or obese patients- they should be mindful of how they approach and communicate with these people. Examples of ways physiotherapists can do this are outlined below:

  • Taking more time in therapy sessions combined with allowing the person to have a chance to speak gives the person to feel more relaxed in the surroundings and allows the therapist a chance to fully understand the main presenting problems.
  • Personal space can be important if a patient is anxious and uncomfortable.
  • Trust is essential to the patient- physiotherapist relationship. An example of how a therapist could build this up in an initial assessment is to spend one session doing the subjective part, then explaining for the next appointment what exactly the objective assessment will entail (e.g. exposing a certain body part). This will put patients more at ease.
    (Examples adapted from Everett et al.)[27]

Genetics[edit | edit source]

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Obesity is a highly heritable trait- even more so than depression and hypertension.[28]A rare genetic condition that is a contributing factor to obesity is Prader-Willi syndrome, where children are much more likely to overeat. Pairing this with a decreased metabolism and lack of muscle tone, they have an increased risk of being obese. This condition occurs when there is a defect in chromosome number 15, and the prevalence is no more than 1 in 15,000 children.[29] Apart from this genetic defect, hereditary factors from mothers to new-borns are found to also contribute to obesity. It is found that BMI and waist circumference trends are highly heritable, estimated to be ranging from 40- 70% in chance.[30]

Childhood obesity can be predicted before a child is born by investigating factors such as:

  • Whether the mother has a higher BMI before pregnancy
  • Whether the mother smokes while pregnant
  • The inter-uterine effects on appetite
  • Metabolism and levels of activity[31] [32] [33] [34] 


Genetic influences (combined with family influences such as parental discipline and example[35]), can play a huge part in why a person can present with obesity or excess weight. Physiotherapists will need to be aware that these may impact the opportunities a person has to change or modify their behaviour, and will need to manage them accordingly. For example, when setting goals with patients, the physiotherapist can try to explore and emphasize what adaptations can be made instead of focusing on barriers to changing other areas.[36]  

Overall, by a physiotherapist recognizing and being aware of these contributing factors, physiotherapy approaches can be adapted to specifically benefit overweight and obese patients. Having physiotherapy management that is sensitive to these contributing factors can improve outcomes, as the interventions included will be specific to the individual and relevant to their current personal situation. The role of the physiotherapist includes advice, guidance and behavioural change (more information about this will be included later on in this resource). 

What Is Needed for Healthy Weight Loss?[edit | edit source]

It is essential to know the recommendations for healthy weight loss to provide the right advice to obese and overweight clients.

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From SIGN (2010)[37]

The Role of Physiotherapy[edit | edit source]

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Physiotherapists may come across patients with overweight or obesity issues. Obesity can mean that a person is more likely to develop physiotherapy- related issues, such as osteoarthritis[38] and restricted movement at some joints leading to functional limitation and pain.[39]

Physiotherapists often treat clients that suffer from secondary conditions due to their obesity or excess weight. An interesting analysis was made by the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry[40], where they found that 73% of hip replacement patients and 87% of knee replacement patients were classified as overweight or obese at the time of their surgery.Physiotherapists are well placed to manage and treat people who are overweight or obese. Specialist knowledge and skills that physiotherapists can apply to this issue include:

  • Anatomical, physiological, and psychosocial mechanisms of health and disease
  • Assessment and diagnosis
  • Behaviour change
  • Biomechanics
  • Exercise prescription and therapeutic exercise
  • Management of long-term conditions[41]

Physiotherapy treatments for obese and overweight patients may include:

  • Provision of personalised lifestyle advice, taking into account individual attitudes, beliefs, circumstances, cultural and social preferences, and the patient's readiness to change;
  • Prescription, supervision, and progression of appropriate physical activity to increase muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance; to sustain energy output as well as enhancing and maintaining weight loss under safe and controlled conditions;
  • Management of conditions associated with overweight or obesity eg arthritis, back pain, and other musculoskeletal and chronic conditions (such as heart disease).
  • Co-ordination of comprehensive and sustainable programmes of management in collaboration with service users, community service and other health and social care professionals.[42]

Alexander et al.[43] recommended an evidence-based approach for the physiotherapy management of obesity as follows:

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(Note: Including education on strategies for adherence to an independent exercise program is also recommended whenever possible.[43])

Overall, physiotherapists have a huge role in managing obese and overweight patients, through using a combination of exercise interventions, mobility training and cardiorespiratory programmes;[42] and also through the use of effective communication techniques involving behaviour change.[44]

Patients’ perceptions of physiotherapists can impact the effectiveness of tackling the issue. A study by Setchell et al.[45] found that there were a number of factors that could cause a negative reaction to physiotherapists discussing weight with overweight patients:

Patient Barriers.png

Setchell et al.[45] identified ways that physiotherapists could attempt to make patients less uncomfortable when discussing this issue.

These include:
⦁ Considering the layout of treatment room (for example, less mirrors, a range of body types represented in pictures/ posters etc.);
⦁ Being sensitive about when weight is discussed, and be sensitive what is discussed, particularly when patients are undressed or have body parts exposed;
⦁ A collaborative, rather than an educational, approach is most beneficial;[46]
⦁ Being deliberately empathetic to obtain more positive responses from patients, and;
⦁ Not ignoring or overemphasizing the topic of weight, but being non-judgemental when discussing it.

Behaviour Change in Relation to Obesity[edit | edit source]

Behaviour change has been defined as “anything a person does in response to an internal or external influence. [47][48] Interventions that include behavioural change are complex,[48]designed to target and change a specific behavioural pattern and are put in place to promote a healthier lifestyle. This type of intervention is most effective when used for a long duration and in intense sessions, as well as being used alongside other interventions (like prescription of medication).[49]

An important characteristic of behavioural therapy intervention is that it adopts a non-critical and non-confrontational approach, but uses a collaborative approach instead.[44] This means that the physiotherapist and the patient work as a team, facilitating lifestyle changes as well as equipping the individual to maintain and self-manage their weight post-intervention.[48]

Creating and developing a strong patient-therapist relationship is key in ensuring trust from the patient as well as optimal motivation, willingness towards change and adherence in the long term.[50] The development of this relationship is is key- especially for the sensitive issue that weight can be as well as the need for encouragement and support that is required. [51]

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Why Behaviour Change?[edit | edit source]

Many research papers highlight that one of the main difficulties in the process of losing weight is maintaining weight loss in the long term.[50] The research available in regards to follow-ups past one year is limited, however there has been a recent study undertaken by Action for Health in Diabetes[52] looking at long term effects of incorporating behaviour change as part of the intervention with patients with Type 2 diabetes.

A large sample of participants...

  • Were recruited from 16 different centres from the United States
    Behaviour Change Image.png
  • Were aged between 45-76 years old
  • Presented with a BMI of greater or equal to 25kg/m2
  • Were randomly assigned (to decrease bias) to either the intensive lifestyle intervention or the diabetes support education

The intensive lifestyle group received advice on diet modification and physical activity; and behavioural strategies such as goal setting, self-monitoring and problem solving were addressed.

The diabetes support education group participants were not presented with any behavioural change support but were only given general focus on diet and physical activity.

It was observed that there was a greater weight loss in the intensive lifestyle group compared with the other, meaning that behavioural change interventions can be effective amongst obese and overweight individuals. This is especially true in the long term as it equips patients with essential tools to be able to make healthier lifestyle choices and changes. The study did not specify whether patients suffered from any mental health issues or from a low income, however the results can still be applicable to such population yet keeping in mind of the difficulties in changing external factors that could contribute to obesity.

The main three key aspects of behavioural therapy are the following:

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1. Goals need to be designed in a manner that is specific to the patient and measurable.[49]   

Many studies and articles highlight the importance of physical activity and the recommendations for exercise to aid weight loss. Common fears and misunderstood perceptions overweight people may have in regards to physical activity can sometimes prevent them from being active. Therefore, it is important as health care professionals to address these expectations, and by doing so aim to alter patients' behaviours towards exercise. One way to do this is by creating patient-centered goals. Goal setting should be discussed with the individual and should be realistic. Findings show that overly-optimistic goals might lead to failure and disappointment, leading to patients becoming more demotivated in regards to exercise.[44][49]Setting goals is an extremely important part of this type of intervention, as they can motivate and encourage patients to be fully on board, and give them visible goals to achieve, which they can look back and reflect on. Setting small yet achievable changes is very important.[53]
2. It address in depth the question “but how?”.

This type of intervention does not just address what to change, but more importantly helps those individuals identify how to change.[49] This means that the physiotherapist can act as a facilitator in the process – once a goal is agreed, the patient should be encouraged to examine what factors might either facilitate or hinder achieving the agreed goals.[49] New strategies, responses and skills are discussed and taught in order to overcome any barriers that might be faced during the patient’s weight loss journey. Foster et al.[49] states that is not a matter of will power that will lead to success but it is “skill power”.
3. Another important aspect to discuss are patients expectations.

Behaviour changes should be small rather than large- this is also to avoid failure or disappointment.[49] [44] It is important to ensure that incremental steps are made, and that the patient fully understands that the process may be slow. Patients should also be able to understand the benefits of setting small changes which they can build on, instead of attempting drastic changes that might only be short-lived. This process is important to ensure that patients are equipped to maintain a healthy lifestyle and manage their own weight in a healthy manner.[53] It is also important to establish what the individual is capable to sustain in the long term so to prevent any relapse or re-gained weight.
Information and advice on healthier eating and lifestyles have gradually increased and are now widely accessible.[54] So, why do people struggle to put this in to practice despite being aware of the benefits of increasing physical activity and improve their diet? Interestingly enough, a study showed that being aware of these required changes did not automatically translate or bring the individuals to take any measure of change in their behaviour, allowing us to raise the issues as to whether people have become so overloaded with such health information that might be in “danger” of switching off.[55]

"Information Overload"

However, many professionals still think that the primary and most effective tool is providing the patient with advice and education.[49] Although educating the patient can be very useful, most overweight patients are often already aware of what they should or should not eat and the benefits of physical activity. In those cases, being willing and taking time instead to explore barriers to weight loss might be more effective rather than wanting to ‘fix’ the problem.[49] This will allow the therapist to explore the reasons behind the person’s behaviour and lifestyle choices, trying to skillfully identify any activities or circumstances that encourage or stimulate unhealthy habits/balance.[51]

In this resource, we have looked at the three most relevant barriers (see section 2.5). As you have previously read, mental health issues are growing in the current population and they can be a real hinderance and struggle for people and there is evidence supporting that mental health and obesity could be linked.[23]

In the US Diabetes Prevention Program[56], greater readiness for change in physical activity level, higher exercise self-efficacy, and lower perceived stress, depression, and anxiety scores were linked with higher levels of baseline activity and maintenance of activity levels at 1 year and at the end of the study. These findings show that the individual’s initial psychological well-being might play a crucial part in predicting whether the individual will adhere to changes or not, and it is unlikely that someone with poor psychological well-being will have the ability or the energy available to take those steps toward behaviour change.[44] Poor psychological well-being might also impact and decrease the individual’s confidence and self- efficacy.[44] Therefore, it comes with no surprise that such changes are difficult and require time as well as support.[54] It is important for therapists to keep this in mind when delivering this type of intervention and undertaking assessments of the readiness levels of the patient, as it might help determine which patients are most likely to increase physical activity levels in lifestyle intervention programs.

Moreover, the difficulty in undertaking those behavioural changes could also be explained by the COM-b model[55]

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This theory model explores three aspects that are key for any behaviour change to take place, those are: capability, opportunity and motivation.[57]

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[58][59]

It is said that for certain behaviour to occur the individual must have knowledge as well as the physical and mental capability to act upon it, be motivated to do so and be clear how to achieve the change.[58] It is useful to be aware of this model when trying to design an intervention or when initiating the difficult conversation, so as to be able to explore and engage the level of readiness the individual is at, and to assist physiotherapists in creating an intervention that can target one or more of these processes, and be patient centered.

Dealing with Ambivalence[edit | edit source]

Most individuals have either been told by a GP or by their family and friends about their weight, and some of them will have expressed a desire in regards to change (or at least thought about it). This demonstrates one of the COM-b model process- capability. They see the benefits of decreasing their weight, but also the barriers stopping them. Ambivalent means both wanting and also not wanting to change at the same time,[60] and it is a common place to be stuck. A common pattern is to start to think of change, then start to think of a reason not to do it and then just stop thinking about it. The way out of this is to go with one path and stick to it.[61]

This is something to be aware of when communication with patients as it is easy to present only the benefits losing weight and try to fix the patient, also called “the righting reflex”. What might happened is that the person start to voice the other side of the argument and justify why they have not done the change yet and responds with denial and oppositional-like behavior. Exactly the opposite of what we are looking for![61]

How Can Communication Be Used to Facilitate Behaviour Change?[edit | edit source]

Motivational Interviewing[edit | edit source]

Motivational interviewing is a person-centered counselling style for addressing the common problem of ambivalence about change[61]

Communication has been recognised as a significant factor to improve, maintain and treat health problems. [62] Motivational Interviewing (MI) originally started as a therapeutic approach to treat people struggling with addictions, [63] but has now been successfully been applied to a range of health problems as an evidence-based counselling approach for health care professionals.[62] The goal of MI is to create an environment where the patient rather than the interviewer, becomes the main advocate for change. The approach is aiming to enhance intrinsic motivation by exploring and resolving the person’s ambivalence. [61]

Four Processes in Motivational Interviewing[edit | edit source]

1. Engaging[edit | edit source]

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Engaging is the process where a mutually trusting and functional working relationship is established. Even before patients attend physiotherapy, they will have wondered about how they will be treated and what the practitioner will be like. First impressions do leave a significant mark; on the other hand, it is not unchangeable. During the first visit the patient will decide how much they like and trust the practitioner and if they will come back.[61]

The importance of a good dialogue between practitioner and patient cannot be stressed enough as it has major impact on the patient's attitudes in relation to managing weight.[64] A study from 2014 found that patients who felt judged about their weight by their primary care providers reported lower trust in their health practitioner compared to others.[65] With this in mind, it is suggested that first addressing the reason the patient is coming in for is good practice, in order to build a good relationship and enhance patient-centred practice.[64]

It is important to address the patient with an empathetic and non-judgemental approach, trying to separate the weight problem from the person.[66] The patient might be vulnerable and frustrated from previous attempts to lose weight and be quite sensitive to discussing this problem,[64] however this should not be a reason for the practitioner to shy away from the problem and bring up the implications of being overweight.[67]

It can be easy to start in the wrong direction, even with the best of intentions. There are different “traps” that should be avoided so as not to disengage the patient. For example, by taking control and asking a set of questions puts the patient in a passive position and also implies “I’m in control here, just do as I tell you and you will be fine”. Also, casual conversation should be avoided. An important part of MI is knowing that the practitioner requires the collaboration of the patient to succeed. Below are factors affecting patient's engagement and suggestions on what the practitioner should do to in order to trigger this engagement. [61]

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2. Focusing[edit | edit source]

To know where the physiotherapist is going with the MI intervention there must be a focus; i.e. what did the person come to talk about? However, the practitioner might also have an agenda that is linked to the original problem. For example, the patient being treated might be complaining of low back pain or a bad knee, in addition, the same person has a BMI of 35kg/m2. The practitioner should address the patient complaint but should also consider bringing up the possible contributing factors to this problem. By doing so the practitioner gets a better picture of the patients’ knowledge, self-awareness and readiness to change.[61]

Miller and Rollnick[61] identify three main sources which will influence the focus and direction of the problem or concern:

  1. The patient:
  • Normally the main source to the focus of the problem.
  • If the practitioner is confident and competent to help the patient with the concern they are presenting the focus is set.

   2. The setting:

  • If the setting is a weight management clinic, this will influence the focus of the conversation.
  • What to be aware of is that this can limit the context as the setting predetermines it and makes it harder to raise other issues that may arise.

   3. Clinical expertise:

  • Often, the patient will arrive at an appointment with one goal in mind, while the physiotherapist perceives that another kind of interaction is needed.
  • The physiotherapist will need to investigate the patients’ willingness and readiness to discuss this other issue.
  • Maybe it relates to their initial goal and may help them achieve that.[61] 

Example:
An obese person turns up to his physiotherapy appointment because he has lower-back pain. The physiotherapist wants to discuss weight issues with him.The patient may or may not recognize the relationship between the two. The hope of the physiotherapist is that the patient is going to recognise the relationship between the two which will increase his motivation to make a change.

There are three different communication styles that the physiotherapist can use to find the focus[61]:

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3. Evoking[edit | edit source]

This stage is the "tipping point" of the process. The patient starts to realise that the pros outweigh the cons which again is the core of MI, i.e. resolving the persons’ ambivalence and make them commit to change. This stage emphasises the importance of the interviewer to promote this “change talk” in the patient.[61]

Example of change talk:

  • "I really want to get fitter"
  • "I am not happy about my current weight and want to change this"
  • "I miss being able to go for a run without being out of breath after 2 minutes"

By reflecting and exploring these responses, the physiotherapist reinforces the patient's statements and enhances the patient's motivation for change.

A commonly used acronym for response techniques used to enhance 'change talk' is O.A.R.S [61]

  • O: use open-ended questions instead of closed questions as they will help to explore more in depth the patient’s feelings and views regarding their weight.
  • A: importance of affirmations and pointing the patient to the need for change
  • R: reflective listening
  • S: summarize to the patient what they have explained so as to assist in reinforcing goals and ideas[61]


4. Planning[edit | edit source]

Knowing that the patient is ready to take the final step and go from “I want to do it” to “how am I going to do it?” is a subjective decision based on the following indicators:

  • Recognition of 'change talk', for example “I want to do this”
  • Questions about change: “What would this exercise group involve?”
  • Taking steps: “I’ve been out walking the dog for 30 minutes three days in a row” [61]

The acronym D.A.R.N.C.A.T can be helpful to identify the patients’ readiness for change. [61]
The D.A.R.N is preparatory, while the C.A.T is required for moving from general intention of wanting the change to actually doing something about it.

  • Desirability of change
  • Ability to change
  • Reasons to change
  • Needing to change.
  • Commitment to change
  • Activation that includes talk about being willing to change
  • Taking Steps toward change[61]

When designing a plan, it is important to have the patient's fullest possible co-operation to avoid them falling back to being ambivalent. The planning process builds on the same principles as the previous stages; i.e. collaborative spirit, O.A.R.S strategy and a clear direction towards change.[61]

Evidence Base for Motivational Interviewing in Managing Overweight and Obesity[edit | edit source]

MI was found to reduce BMI and weight in overweight and obese adults in a Cochrain review from 2012 .[63] Previous evidence also indicates that that MI has a small positive effect on weight management[68] and significant effect on BMI, total blood cholesterol and systolic blood pressure.[69] In addition, MI might support long-term weight loss maintenance and was found to be a feasible intervention[70] and appropriate for older adults with long-term medical conditions.[71]

However, there are still gaps in the literature raising questions about the effectiveness of MI. It is possible that MI is not as effective in some ethnic minority groups. In a study by Befort et al.,[72]obese African-American woman failed to improve outcomes after MI interventions. Armstrong et al.[63] also raises the issue that the small data size makes it difficult to draw a conclusion, as only 11 studies were applicable for their meta-analysis, reducing the statistical power of the findings. Thus, more larger studies are required to draw a clear conclusion of the effectiveness of MI. In addition, more long-term studies are required to confirm the long-term effects of MI.[63]

What Words to Use When Addressing Excess Weight With Patients?[edit | edit source]

As obesity is an increasing problem, physiotherapists needs to be able to address this topic in a sensitive and effective way, as there is a lot of stigma in relation to this topic.[64] To avoid misinterpretation, physiotherapists need to be aware of terminology used to reduce the chances of damaging their relationship with the patient.[64][67]

Large size Excess fat Excess Weight Obesity        Weight Unhealthy BMI
Unhealthy weight Overweight status Fatness BMI Weight Problem Heaviness


In the studies available, there is a consistency that the terms “weight” and “BMI” are the most desirable terms when raising the question about patient’s excess weight.[73][74][75][76][64]) While the terms “excess fat”, “obesity”, “fatness”, “large size” and “heaviness” were found to be undesirable terms by participants.[73][74][75][76][64] However, a study looking at patients’ reactions when their GP used the term “obesity” compared with euphemisms e.g., “Your weight might be damaging your health” found, interestingly, that the obese patients reacted more positively to the euphemisms than to the term “obesity”, while it was the opposite for non-obese patients.[77] This suggests that different people react in different ways depending on their weight. Research suggests that some words, "Weight" and "BMI" are better to use than others are when communicating with patients regarding their excess weight. Having in mind there is a huge variation of terms that people find reasonable, and asking the patient what terms they use might be helpful in order to avoid misinterpretation.[67]

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Physiotherapists have a major role in management of obese and overweight patients. Obesity and overweight is a current and concerning health issue as many people are affected by it. There are many contributing factors to obesity- socio-economic status, mental health and genetics being three of the largest factors. Communication can be used to facilitate behaviour change in people who are overweight and obese. Physiotherapists can make use of techniques like motivational interviewing to effectively make a difference.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. World Health Organization. Controlling the global obesity epidemic. http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/obesity/en/ (accessed 27 Jan 2016).
  2. Gill TP. Key issues in the prevention of obesity. British Medical Bulletin 1997; 53 (2): 359- 388. http://bmb.oxfordjournals.org/content/53/2/359.full.pdf (accessed 27 Jan 2016).
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