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UOX_Weight loss resource

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Created on February 16, 2023

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Transcript

30 min

Home

Practical tips and audio clips for delivering very brief weight loss interventions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Giving advice

Health issues

Start

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

5 min
2 min

Home

Introduction

Overview

Obesity is a growing public health challenge, and our GP practices can be great places to support people with weight management. Evidence shows that offering referral to specialist services are most likely to benefit your patient, however, these are not always available. One thing you can do to help is offer very brief advice, but practice staff often find it tricky to talk about weight with their patients or even to start the conversation. We used communication science – analysing hundreds of real world recordings between clinicians and patients – to understand and share the best ways to share brief advice with patients who would like to lose weight.

Evidence

Starting off

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

5 min
2 min

Home

Objectives

Overview

Based on these findings, this 30-minute training will provide you with:

Evidence

  • An understanding of the evidence-base for very brief weight loss advice.
  • Knowledge of the most effective ways to provide brief weight loss advice.
  • The skills to talk about weight loss confidently and effectively in your consultations.

Starting off

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

5 min

Home

How to navigate

Place your mouse over each pink highlight for an explanation of the interactive elements.When you're ready to move on, click the 'next' arrow.

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Demo page

Resources

Our research

5 min
3 min

Home

Evidence supporting brief weight loss advice

Overview

There are many myths about brief advice, but they are rarely based on evidence. You might even have been taught some of these myths. Here we present 10 myths and the counter-evidence...

Evidence

Starting off

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

5 min

Home

Myths

Research findings

Overview

Giving brief advice is not effective for weight loss

You don’t need long to talk about weight loss. A recent trial showed that very brief advice (about 30 seconds) was associated with weight loss

Evidence

Starting off

Giving advice

I should wait until the patient asks me about weight, rather than offer brief advice and support opportunistically

Most people find opportunistic advice helpful and appropriate. Many people are not sure how to bring the topic up with a healthcare professional, so value the opportunity for advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Most people want more support with weight loss than they are currently receiving and are happy to talk to a healthcare professional. It's very unlikely someone will become upset

Giving brief advice for weight loss will upset people

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

5 min

Home

Myths

Research findings

Overview

Advising someone to ‘eat less and move more’ is helpful

Most people have already tried this, and it does not work for everyone. Giving weight loss advice is more complex than explaining 'calories in' and 'calories out'

Evidence

Starting off

Giving advice

Advising patients that increasing exercise alone will lead to weight loss

Increasing exercise is good for all sorts of reasons, but increasing exercise alone is unlikely to lead to weight loss. It can help with weight maintenance though

Health issues

Tricky talks

One specific diet will work for everyone and I should advise people to try that

What works for one person may not work for someone else

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

5 min

Home

Myths

Research findings

Overview

‘Scare tactics’ (for example telling people their risk of disease has increased) will motivate action

Scare tactics are unlikely to help and can demotivate people

Evidence

Starting off

I need to do motivational interviewing

There is no evidence that motivational interviewing increases the effectiveness of brief advice

Giving advice

Health issues

Effective brief weight loss advice must include goal setting

You do not need to set goals for advice to be helpful

Tricky talks

Ending well

I’ve given advice before and this person has not lost weight… it means they aren’t interested in losing weight

Obesity is a relapsing condition that requires lifelong support. Just because someone has not lost weight doesn’t mean they haven’t tried. Simply offering to talk can let people know you’re there to help

10

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

Home

Brief weight loss conversations: best practice

Overview

This learning tool provides evidence from analysis of real world consultations, which show best practice on:

Evidence

  • Starting weight loss conversations
  • Giving advice
  • When and how to link weight loss with a patient’s health conditions
  • Troubleshooting (during uncomfortable conversations)
  • Ending conversations

Starting off

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

We provide helpful hints and tips, but remember to respect your patient’s decision if they do not want to talk about their weight.

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

4 min

Home

Setting the right ‘tone’ for your conversation is key. This page uses audio clips to explain how to introduce weight loss advice in consultations. Listen to different approaches by pressing the audio buttons.

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Practical tips

Audio clips

Giving advice

Aim to be delicate and personal

Delicate and personalised

  • Slow down your speech
  • Use your patient’s name
  • Connect to what’s happened today
  • Talk about an issue that’s relevant to them

Health issues

Direct

Tricky talks

Delicate but depersonalised

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

4 min

Home

You can give advice in different ways, but some are more effective than others. This page explains how to make the benefits of weight loss clear without telling your patient what to do.

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Practical tips

Audio clips

Being vague about the benefits of weight loss

Giving advice

Be clear about the benefits of weight loss:

  • Place advice in sequence by assessing their weight and giving positive risk information
  • Recommend that your patient attempts to lose weight by highlighting the positive benefits

Health issues

Being clear about the benefits of weight loss

Tricky talks

Telling the patient what to do

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

2 min

Home

How weight loss is linked to patients’ health conditions influences patient engagement. Using audio clips, this page shows when and how to effectively link weight loss and health conditions.

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Practical tips

Audio clips

Indiscriminately linking to other health conditions

Giving advice

  • Avoid implying that your patient’s lifestyle is the cause of their health conditions
  • Avoid implying that they should only lose weight to fix their current health condition
  • Do link weight and health conditions if the patient has already mentioned their weight

Health issues

Effectively linking to other health conditions

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

4 min

Home

Talking about your patient’s weight can feel negative. Listen to the audio clips to see how to avoid and navigate uncomfortable conversations.

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Practical tips

Audio clips

Presuming that your patient didn’t know something

  • Assume that your patient:
    • is doing something about their weight
    • understands
    • can do things differently

Giving advice

Health issues

Presuming what will or won’t be easy for your patient

  • Manage reticence by:
    • acknowledging their perspective
    • minimising the impact of your conversation
    • offering future support

Tricky talks

Being dismissive if you’re patient is interested

Ending well

Carefully responding if your patient doesn’t want to talk about weight loss

  • It’s best to avoid diet and exercise advice

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

2 min

Home

It can be tricky to end discussions about weight loss, especially when it is in addition to a standard consultation. Listen to the audio clips of different approaches to completing a conversation about weight loss

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Practical tips

Audio clips

Giving advice

Everyday closing

Set a good closing environment by:

  • positively evaluating your conversation
  • making a follow up arrangement if appropriate
  • checking in with your patient

Health issues

Closing weight loss advice

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

Listen to this page

1 min

Home

Summary Delivering very brief, evidence-based, weight loss advice in under 30 seconds:

Overview

Downloadable? Could add learning box into the page download? Or into the cert?

Evidence

  • Be delicate and personalise – slow down your speech, use your patient’s name and refer back to what has happened in the consultation.
  • Be positive when explaining and advising – focus on the benefits of weight loss.
  • Avoid assuming that your patient doesn’t know about simple diet and exercise changes, or isn’t doing something about their weight.
  • Manage reticence by acknowledging your patient’s perspective, minimising the impact of your conversation and offering future support.

Starting off

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

8 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

1 / 6

Starting off

Myth busterWhy should you avoid giving generic diet and exercise advice?

Giving advice

Health issues

It makes assumptions about what people currently are (or are not doing)

Tricky talks

Ending well

Exercise doesn’t really help with weight loss

Summary

Test your skills

An ‘eat less, do more’ approach is unlikely to be effective for the general population of people living with obesity

Resources

All of the above

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

1 / 6

Starting off

You’re right, well done

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

2 / 6

Starting off

EvidenceWhich of these statements is true?

Giving advice

Health issues

You need a long time to talk about weight

Tricky talks

Ending well

Weight management advice can be brief and effective

Summary

You should only talk about weight loss if your patient asks about it

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

You do not need a long time to talk about weight loss. A recent trial showed that very brief advice (less than 30 seconds) was associated with weight loss.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

Many people are not sure how to raise the topic of weight with healthcare professionals, and find opportunistic advice helpful and appropriate.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

2 / 6

Starting off

You’re right, well done

Giving advice

A recent trial showed that very brief advice (less than 30 seconds) was associated with weight loss.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

3 / 6

Starting off

Starting off Which of these recordings is delicate and personalised?

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Recording 1

Recording 2

Recording 3

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

In this response, the clinician is directive stating their opinion and focusing on the risks of being overweight.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

While the clinician is delicate, the information they provide is depersonalised.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

3 / 6

Starting off

You’re right, well done

Giving advice

The clinician is delicate and personalises the information.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

4 / 6

Starting off

Giving advice Which of these ways of giving advice is recommended?

Giving advice

Health issues

Highlight the problems if they don’t lose weight

Tricky talks

Ending well

Highlight the benefits of losing weight

Summary

Give advice before you assess your patient’s weight

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

Scare tactics can demotivate people.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

Giving advice before you assess your patient’s weight can result in depersonalised advice, which is not in context.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

4 / 6

Starting off

You’re right, well done

Giving advice

Patients are more likely to respond positively to personalised advice, which emphasises the benefits of losing weight.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

5 / 6

Starting off

Health issuesLinking health issues to weight loss when giving advice can cause problems. How can you avoid these:

Giving advice

Health issues

Avoid implying that your patient’s lifestyle has caused any health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Positively emphasise the benefits of weight loss for general health

Summary

Test your skills

Do link weight and health issues if the patient has already mentioned their weight

Resources

All of the above

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

5 / 6

Starting off

You’re right, well done

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

6 / 6

Starting off

Giving adviceWhen giving advice you should:

Giving advice

Health issues

Tell people what to do

Tricky talks

Ending well

Tentatively raise the topic of weight

Summary

Raise the topic confidently, and highlight the positive benefits of weight loss (moderation)

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

When patients are told what to do, they tend to remain silent, not acknowledging the advice.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

Patients may not recognise that you are advising on weight or your clinical knowledge about the links between weight and health.

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

10 min

Home

Test your skills by answering the following questions

Overview

Evidence

Starting off

Sorry that's not right, please try again

Giving advice

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

Test your skills

Resources

Our research

Home

Overview

Congratulations!

Evidence

You have completed the training, click the link below to download the certificate where you can fill in your name and today’s date

Starting off

Giving advice

Download certificate

Health issues

Tricky talks

Ending well

Summary

To help us evaluate and improve the training, please complete this very short survey in the link below:

Test your skills

Feedback survey

Resources

Our research

Being clear about the benefits of weight loss

so, with re­gards to your weight ­your BMI, your body mass index... is ­just slightly, it is too high at the moment and it would be really would be in your best o­kay interests to consider losing a little bit of weight okay and um and ­it you know there’s really good evidence that it will definitely help your ­back ­pain, okay and help with your joint pain if you’re getting any osteoarthritis of your ­knees and your feet and things like that and your ­hips it will help ­that, yep and obviously it ­majorly reduces your risk of developing heart disease and dia­betes okay so it would definitely, definitely be in your best interest to consider losing a bit of weight okay

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

This audio clip shows the most effective way to provide weight loss advice. The clinician does provide explicit advice about the possible benefits of losing weight and suggests the patient “consider losing a bit of weight”, which avoids telling the patient what to do.

Being vague about the benefits of weight loss

you’ve just been weighed and it showed that your body mass index is thirty one point eight, mm and er what we know, for people that are er overweight and that puts you into an obese... category is that mm er that increases your risk of er heart disease and diabetes and other conditions like that. right. and that if you address that weight problem and are able to bring it down... then so your risks mm also reduce. right. okay, so what I want you to do after today is to take that message on board, okay?

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor

Telling the patient what to do

Now the other thing to talk about with there is obviously the weight, which... would be helpful to get a bit off you. And I think it’s part of... the control with the diabetes. Really, is if you can try to sort of maintain, and keep your weight down... it would make a big difference with any risk of diabetes getting worse in the future. Um and er but you know, just try and lose a bit of weight... and see if it is, see how you get on with that okay. Make quite a difference I think.

Doctor

Everyday closing

The repeated responses by the clinician and patient show how we typically end a conversation in everyday talk and clinical consultations. However, for effective weight loss advice more is required.

Okay? Okay then, thanks very much Buh-bye then Buh-bye

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient

Indiscriminately linking to other health conditions

In addition to a direct introduction to the topic of weight loss and a lack of positive framing about how losing weight may impact the patient’s blood pressure and arthritis, in this less effective audio clip, the clinician links ‘indiscriminately’ between the patient’s weight and other potential health conditions. This can evoke ‘worst case health scenarios’ and imply the patient is to blame for developing other health conditions, as is seen in her response “well yeah but I got arthritis”

um, you are overweight and do you realise that is er going... to impact your health particularly things like arthritis, and blood pressure well yeah but I got arthritis. yeah. so thank you yeah

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Everyday closing

The repeated responses by the clinician and patient show how we typically end a conversation in everyday talk and clinical consultations. However, for effective weight loss advice more is required.

Okay? Okay then, thanks very much Buh-bye then Buh-bye

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Delicate but depersonalised

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician starts the conversation with delicacy, hesitating and softening what she says. However, the information provided “there are some good health benefits” is not personalised – meaning it’s not necessarily relevant for this particular patient. The patient’s mm..yes shows that indeed this information is not relevant for him – it is already known and redundant.

Basically, d’you realise there are some good health benefits ‘bout losing some weight. mm..yes

Doctor Patient

Being clear about the benefits of weight loss

This audio clip shows the most effective way to provide weight loss advice. The clinician does provide explicit advice about the possible benefits of losing weight and suggests the patient “consider losing a bit of weight”, which avoids telling the patient what to do.

so, with re­gards to your weight ­your BMI, your body mass index... is ­just slightly, it is too high at the moment and it would be really would be in your best o­kay interests to consider losing a little bit of weight okay and um and ­it you know there’s really good evidence that it will definitely help your ­back ­pain, okay and help with your joint pain if you’re getting any osteoarthritis of your ­knees and your feet and things like that and your ­hips it will help ­that, yep and obviously it ­majorly reduces your risk of developing heart disease and dia­betes okay so it would definitely, definitely be in your best interest to consider losing a bit of weight okay

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient

Effectively linking to other health conditions

This audio clip shows the most effective method for linking weight loss and health conditions. Notice how the clinician refers to previous talk about weight, before suggesting that losing weight would help the patient’s back pain. She frames the conversation positively, saying weight loss will ‘help’ her back, rather than the negative framing in the previous example. Notice how each step by the clinician follows a positive response from the patient.

as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah. mentioned a bit about your weight. yeah. as we’ve been talking about your back, one of the things that... would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Effectively linking to other health conditions

This audio clip shows the most effective method for linking weight loss and health conditions. Notice how the clinician refers to previous talk about weight, before suggesting that losing weight would help the patient’s back pain. She frames the conversation positively, saying weight loss will ‘help’ her back, rather than the negative framing in the previous example. Notice how each step by the clinician follows a positive response from the patient.

as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah. mentioned a bit about your weight. yeah. as we’ve been talking about your back, one of the things that... would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient

Being clear about the benefits of weight loss

This audio clip shows the most effective way to provide weight loss advice. The clinician does provide explicit advice about the possible benefits of losing weight and suggests the patient “consider losing a bit of weight”, which avoids telling the patient what to do.

so, with re­gards to your weight ­your BMI, your body mass index... is ­just slightly, it is too high at the moment and it would be really would be in your best o­kay interests to consider losing a little bit of weight okay and um and ­it you know there’s really good evidence that it will definitely help your ­back ­pain, okay and help with your joint pain if you’re getting any osteoarthritis of your ­knees and your feet and things like that and your ­hips it will help ­that, yep and obviously it ­majorly reduces your risk of developing heart disease and dia­betes okay so it would definitely, definitely be in your best interest to consider losing a bit of weight okay

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Delicate and personalised

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Indiscriminately linking to other health conditions

In addition to a direct introduction to the topic of weight loss and a lack of positive framing about how losing weight may impact the patient’s blood pressure and arthritis, in this less effective audio clip, the clinician links ‘indiscriminately’ between the patient’s weight and other potential health conditions. This can evoke ‘worst case health scenarios’ and imply the patient is to blame for developing other health conditions, as is seen in her response “well yeah but I got arthritis”

um, you are overweight and do you realise that is er going... to impact your health particularly things like arthritis, and blood pressure well yeah but I got arthritis. yeah. so thank you yeah

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient

Telling the patient what to do

In this less effective consultation, the clinician provides advice about the benefits of weight loss but in a way that suggests she is telling the patient what to do. Notice the number of times the clinician tells the patient to lose weight and the patient's lack of response throughout.

Now the other thing to talk about with there is obviously the weight, which... would be helpful to get a bit off you. And I think it’s part of... the control with the diabetes. Really, is if you can try to sort of maintain, and keep your weight down... it would make a big difference with any risk of diabetes getting worse in the future. Um and er but you know, just try and lose a bit of weight... and see if it is, see how you get on with that okay. Make quite a difference I think.

Doctor

Being dismissive if your patient is interested

Notice how, in this audio clip, the clinician is not making assumptions about what the patient knows or what she has or has not done. The patient talks about what she has done, and the clinician responds positively – “That’s good that you did”. This response encourages the patient to ask for help. The clinician offers to provide further help at another appointment. While this is effective, given how interested the patient is, could the clinician have offered more at this appointment?

…And things like that so Sure I’m well aware that I need to be on that journey, and largely I was. Yeah. I lost like a stone in- in the summer and then, I didn’t… ha ha Yeah I didn’t continue it so That’s g- that that’s good that you did. I’m not - I’m well aware of the situation, and what I should be doing, Sure But any help, Sure I’m more than happy to take so- Okay yeah so- so what- we won’t use today’s consultation for that because that’s not what you’re here for Yeah, okay

Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient

Delicate and personalised

This audio-clip shows the most effective way to introduce weight loss advice. The clinician personalises the consultation - using the patient’s name, referring to what has happened before and the patient’s health. The doctor also gently hesitates showing a ‘delicate’ way to start off the conversation. Throughout the patient responds positively with “yeahs” and, at the end, the patient joins in with the clinician’s “lose some weight” suggesting that they are on board.

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Delicate but depersonalised

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician starts the conversation with delicacy, hesitating and softening what she says. However, the information provided “there are some good health benefits” is not personalised – meaning it’s not necessarily relevant for this particular patient. The patient’s mm..yes shows that indeed this information is not relevant for him – it is already known and redundant.

Basically, d’you realise there are some good health benefits ‘bout losing some weight. mm..yes

Doctor Patient

Delicate and personalised

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Delicate and personalised

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Delicate but depersonalised

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician starts the conversation with delicacy, hesitating and softening what she says. However, the information provided “there are some good health benefits” is not personalised – meaning it’s not necessarily relevant for this particular patient. The patient’s mm..yes shows that indeed this information is not relevant for him – it is already known and redundant.

Basically, d’you realise there are some good health benefits ‘bout losing some weight. mm..yes

Doctor Patient

Direct

As I’m sure you’re aware, you are, overweight... Um and it is bad for your health

Doctor

Being vague about the benefits of weight loss

In this less effective audio clip, notice the information the clinician provides is vague and tentative - “if you address that weight problem and are able to bring it down ….”. Finally, the advice the doctor provides is to “take that message on board”. In effect, explicit weight loss advice is not provided.

you’ve just been weighed and it showed that your body mass index is thirty one point eight, mm and er what we know, for people that are er overweight and that puts you into an obese... category is that mm er that increases your risk of er heart disease and diabetes and other conditions like that. right. and that if you address that weight problem and are able to bring it down... then so your risks mm also reduce. right. okay, so what I want you to do after today is to take that message on board, okay?

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor

Carefully dealing with your patient if they aren’t keen

This audio clip shows how to effectively avoid uncomfortable moments in the conversation, when patients indicate they do not want to talk about their weight. While the clinician does make assumptions about what the patient knows about weight loss, when the patient says “I do know that”, the clinician stops stating “so I will leave it there”. He also leaves the door open for future advice with “if you do want more advice … come back and see me.” The patient’s “okay that’s fine” suggests agreement with the plan.

Do you realise there are some good health benefits about losing some weight Yes And it greatly reduces… if -even if you lost a stone you, greatly reduce your chances of getting diabetes and reduces your risk of heart disease and strokes diabetes and strokes, and it can actually reduce your blood pressure. I do know that. So I will leave it there. But if you do want some more advice about practical things about losing weight then obviously come back and see me and we can go though it in detail, at another time. Okay that’s fine.

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Delicate and personalised

This audio-clip shows the most effective way to introduce weight loss advice. The clinician personalises the consultation - using the patient’s name, referring to what has happened before and the patient’s health. The doctor also gently hesitates showing a ‘delicate’ way to start off the conversation. Throughout the patient responds positively with “yeahs” and, at the end, the patient joins in with the clinician’s “lose some weight” suggesting that they are on board.

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient

Direct

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician introduces the topic of weight loss by negatively assessing the patient’s weight – “you are, overweight”. Notice how the patient does not say anything.

As I’m sure you’re aware, you are, overweight... Um and it is bad for your health

Doctor

Direct

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician introduces the topic of weight loss by negatively assessing the patient’s weight – “you are, overweight”. Notice how the patient does not say anything.

As I’m sure you’re aware, you are, overweight... Um and it is bad for your health

Clinician

Closing weight loss advice

In this effective closing, the clinician starts by offering further support if the patient wants it. If a patient is interested, this support could be an appointment or referral. The clinician then checks in with the patient – “Is that alright?”. After the patient’s assessment “it’s fine”, the clinician positively evaluates the conversation, ending with “fabulous”.

Perhaps what we should do is- is- if you want some further help and some advice on how to try and do that then, perhaps we sh- come back and see me Okay And we’ll have a chat and you know I’ll help you as much as we can. Is that alright? Yeah, it’s fine Fabulous alright

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician

Presuming that your patient didn’t know something

In this less effective consultation, notice how, through the use of “did you know”, the clinician assumes that the patient didn’t know why weight loss is important. The patient’s response shows she is well aware of these risks, having been told “probably a hundred times”.

According to this, did you know that if you were... to lose weight, Yes that it would help you with um your risk factors as far as... heart attacks, strokes, blood pressure control, and diabetes development Yes. I’ve been told, probably a hundred times I’ve been told

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Presuming that your patient didn’t know something

In this less effective consultation, notice how, through the use of “did you know”, the clinician assumes that the patient didn’t know why weight loss is important. The patient’s response shows she is well aware of these risks, having been told “probably a hundred times”.

According to this, did you know that if you were... to lose weight, Yes that it would help you with um your risk factors as far as... heart attacks, strokes, blood pressure control, and diabetes development Yes. I’ve been told, probably a hundred times I’ve been told

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient

Delicate and personalised

This audio-clip shows the most effective way to introduce weight loss advice. The clinician personalises the consultation - using the patient’s name, referring to what has happened before and the patient’s health. The doctor also gently hesitates showing a ‘delicate’ way to start off the conversation. Throughout the patient responds positively with “yeahs” and, at the end, the patient joins in with the clinician’s “lose some weight” suggesting that they are on board.

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Telling the patient what to do

Now the other thing to talk about with there is obviously the weight, which... would be helpful to get a bit off you. And I think it’s part of... the control with the diabetes. Really, is if you can try to sort of maintain, and keep your weight down... it would make a big difference with any risk of diabetes getting worse in the future. Um and er but you know, just try and lose a bit of weight... and see if it is, see how you get on with that okay. Make quite a difference I think.

Doctor

Being vague about the benefits of weight loss

In this less effective audio clip, notice the information the clinician provides is vague and tentative - “if you address that weight problem and are able to bring it down ….”. Finally, the advice the doctor provides is to “take that message on board”. In effect, explicit weight loss advice is not provided.

you’ve just been weighed and it showed that your body mass index is thirty one point eight, mm and er what we know, for people that are er overweight and that puts you into an obese... category is that mm er that increases your risk of er heart disease and diabetes and other conditions like that. right. and that if you address that weight problem and are able to bring it down... then so your risks mm also reduce. right. okay, so what I want you to do after today is to take that message on board, okay?

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician

Direct

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician introduces the topic of weight loss by negatively assessing the patient’s weight – “you are, overweight”. Notice how the patient does not say anything.

As I’m sure you’re aware, you are, overweight... Um and it is bad for your health

Doctor

Being clear about the benefits of weight loss

so, with re­gards to your weight ­your BMI, your body mass index... is ­just slightly, it is too high at the moment and it would be really would be in your best o­kay interests to consider losing a little bit of weight okay and um and ­it you know there’s really good evidence that it will definitely help your ­back ­pain, okay and help with your joint pain if you’re getting any osteoarthritis of your ­knees and your feet and things like that and your ­hips it will help ­that, yep and obviously it ­majorly reduces your risk of developing heart disease and dia­betes okay so it would definitely, definitely be in your best interest to consider losing a bit of weight okay

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

This audio clip shows the most effective way to provide weight loss advice. The clinician does provide explicit advice about the possible benefits of losing weight and suggests the patient “consider losing a bit of weight”, which avoids telling the patient what to do.

Delicate and personalised

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Being dismissive if your patient isn’t keen

Notice how, in this audio clip, the clinician is not making assumptions about what the patient knows or what she has or has not done. The patient talks about what she has done, and the clinician responds positively – “That’s good that you did”. This response encourages the patient to ask for help. The clinician offers to provide further help at another appointment. While this is effective, given how interested the patient is, could the clinician have offered more at this appointment?

…And things like that so Sure I’m well aware that I need to be on that journey, and largely I was. Yeah. I lost like a stone in- in the summer and then, I didn’t… ha ha Yeah I didn’t continue it so That’s g- that that’s good that you did. I’m not - I’m well aware of the situation, and what I should be doing, Sure But any help, Sure I’m more than happy to take so- Okay yeah so- so what- we won’t use today’s consultation for that because that’s not what you’re here for Yeah, okay

Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient

Closing weight loss advice

In this effective closing, the clinician starts by offering further support if the patient wants it. If a patient is interested, this support could be an appointment or referral. The clinician then checks in with the patient – “Is that alright?”. After the patient’s assessment “it’s fine”, the clinician positively evaluates the conversation, ending with “fabulous”.

Perhaps what we should do is- is- if you want some further help and some advice on how to try and do that then, perhaps we sh- come back and see me Okay And we’ll have a chat and you know I’ll help you as much as we can. Is that alright? Yeah, it’s fine Fabulous alright

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor

Delicate and personalised

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Carefully dealing with your patient if they aren’t keen

This audio clip shows how to effectively avoid uncomfortable moments in the conversation, when patients indicate they do not want to talk about their weight. While the clinician does make assumptions about what the patient knows about weight loss, when the patient says “I do know that”, the clinician stops stating “so I will leave it there”. He also leaves the door open for future advice with “if you do want more advice … come back and see me.” The patient’s “okay that’s fine” suggests agreement with the plan.

Do you realise there are some good health benefits about losing some weight Yes And it greatly reduces… if -even if you lost a stone you, greatly reduce your chances of getting diabetes and reduces your risk of heart disease and strokes diabetes and strokes, and it can actually reduce your blood pressure. I do know that. So I will leave it there. But if you do want some more advice about practical things about losing weight then obviously come back and see me and we can go though it in detail, at another time. Okay that’s fine.

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient

Delicate and personalised

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Telling the patient what to do

In this less effective consultation, the clinician provides advice about the benefits of weight loss but in a way that suggests she is telling the patient what to do. Notice the number of times the clinician tells the patient to lose weight and the patient's lack of response throughout.

Now the other thing to talk about with there is obviously the weight, which... would be helpful to get a bit off you. And I think it’s part of... the control with the diabetes. Really, is if you can try to sort of maintain, and keep your weight down... it would make a big difference with any risk of diabetes getting worse in the future. Um and er but you know, just try and lose a bit of weight... and see if it is, see how you get on with that okay. Make quite a difference I think.

Clinician

Presuming what will or won’t be easy for your patient

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician makes assumptions that while the patient will be more active on holiday, managing his diet will be harder. Notice how the patient corrects these assumptions – “I’m not eating too much, I’m not moving too often”.

try I mean I’m ­sure you’ll be more ­active when you’re abroad and, and doing things and... just sort of ­watch that you’re, you know, eating ­eating, ­yes, er which probably ­you’re (laughs)­ will be difficult when you’re on ho­liday yeah an- an- no it’s not difficult I’m ­not eating too much ­I’m not ­moving too ­often yeah I’m ­moving in the ­morning and after­noon I just collapse on the so­fa and ­­that, end of story are ­tired, ­yeah and ­plus my ­­hips which were very pain­ful ­okay

Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician Patient Clinician

Being vague about the benefits of weight loss

you’ve just been weighed and it showed that your body mass index is thirty one point eight, mm and er what we know, for people that are er overweight and that puts you into an obese... category is that mm er that increases your risk of er heart disease and diabetes and other conditions like that. right. and that if you address that weight problem and are able to bring it down... then so your risks mm also reduce. right. okay, so what I want you to do after today is to take that message on board, okay?

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor

Delicate but depersonalised

Basically, d’you realise there are some good health benefits ‘bout losing some weight. mm..yes

Doctor Patient

Delicate but depersonalised

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician starts the conversation with delicacy, hesitating and softening what she says. However, the information provided “there are some good health benefits” is not personalised – meaning it’s not necessarily relevant for this particular patient. The patient’s mm..yes shows that indeed this information is not relevant for her – it is already known and redundant.

Basically, d’you realise there are some good health benefits ‘bout losing some weight. mm..yes

Clinician Patient

Delicate and personalised

um Mr Williams as you know you spoke to the lady earlier and you yeah, yeah mentioned a bit about your weight yeah as we’ve been talking about your back one of the things that would really help your back is to lose some weight lose some weight

Presuming what will or won’t be easy for your patient

In this less effective audio clip, the clinician makes assumptions that while the patient will be more active on holiday, managing his diet will be harder. Notice how the patient corrects these assumptions – “I’m not eating too much, I’m not moving too often”.

try I mean I’m ­sure you’ll be more ­active when you’re abroad and, and doing things and... just sort of ­watch that you’re, you know, eating ­eating, ­yes, er which probably ­you’re (laughs)­ will be difficult when you’re on ho­liday yeah an- an- no it’s not difficult I’m ­not eating too much ­I’m not ­moving too ­often yeah I’m ­moving in the ­morning and after­noon I just collapse on the so­fa and ­­that, end of story are ­tired, ­yeah and ­plus my ­­hips which were very pain­ful ­okay

Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor Patient Doctor