Attitudes towards different weight loss approaches among adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Stephanie A Hooker, Lilian Chumba, Heidi Ekstrom and 4 others
PMID 40451037WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity preferred lifestyle changes first, then medication, and saw surgery as last resort.
In 30 interviews, they wanted clinicians to avoid labels, personalize weight talk, and compare risks, benefits, and costs.
Key findings
01Most participants preferred using lifestyle changes first, then medication, and finally surgery.
02Most participants wanted clinicians to avoid labels and scare tactics, and many wanted personalized conversations with concrete help.
03Most participants were more open to surgery or medication when framed as diabetes treatments rather than only weight loss treatments.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The interviews included only 30 patients from one health system and one geographic region, so attitudes may differ elsewhere. Participants had class II to III obesity and no prior surgery, so views of people who have successfully lost and maintained weight are not represented. The interviews were done in spring 2022, before widespread GLP-1 receptor agonist advertising and when use remained low, so current attitudes toward medication may have changed. This was a design-phase sub-study of a larger trial, not a test of whether shared decision making, stories, or diabetes framing changes treatment uptake or weight loss.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that stories, diabetes framing, or shared decision making improve treatment uptake or weight loss. These interviews describe what 30 patients said they wanted and preferred; they did not test whether any conversation strategy changed behavior.