General practitioners (GPs) are in an ideal position to provide weight management to overweight and obese patients due to the long-term nature of the patient- physician relationship. Clinical practice guidelines provide detailed, evidence-based recommendations for assessing and managing overweight and obesity. However, the adoption and implementation of these guidelines may be influenced by a GP’s confidence in, and attitudes towards, weight management.  An online survey of Australian GPs (n=250) from rural (8%), regional (19%) and metro (73%) areas was conducted. The survey included questions relating to patient population characteristics, and attitudes and behaviours in weight management.

GPs were found to fall into 1 of 3 categories: 1) confident and self-assured in weight management (47%); 2) less confident in discussing weight management (23%); and 3) casual or apathetic to weight management (30%). Not surprisingly, GPs who appeared more confident (category 1) reported discussing weight with a higher proportion of their overweight and obese patients (73% overweight and 86% obese, versus 66% overweight and 79% obese for category 2 and 64% overweight and 76% obese for category 3).

If a GP’s confidence in weight management influences the likelihood of discussing  weight with an overweight or obese patient, then strategies to increase GPs’ confidence in weight management could be an important aspect of managing the obesity epidemic in the primary care setting.  
 
This study was funded by iNova.