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Each month an estimated 20% of the U.S. population visits a physician’s office, placing the healthcare system in an ideal position to influence people. In order to have an impact healthcare providers need to maximize the time they have with patients and they need to refer them to existing programming in the healthcare setting as well as in the community.

Before the Office Exam

• Waiting Room: Use the waiting room to share information about healthy eating and active living. Display information (posters, brochures, etc.) about nutrition and physical activity resources available to families.
• Office Environment: Create an office environment that supports the delivery of obesity care (e.g. sturdy armless chairs, large arm & thigh blood pressure cuffs, large gowns, higher weight scales, sensitive and informed office staff, etc.). Adopt nutrition guidelines for food and beverages available on the hospital and clinic campus. Co-locate a farmers’ market on the hospital and clinic campus for patients and staff.
• Questionnaires: Have patients use their waiting time to complete a nutrition and activity self-assessment to bring into the exam.

In the Exam Room: Treatment Strategies / Resources and Information

• Screen at least annually for overweight and obesity (using BMI for all patients). Use the CDC guidelines offered for adults and children.
• Provide a physical activity and nutrition prescription for patients to follow. A care plan written and agreed on collaboratively between medical staff and the patient will help patient adherence. Set small, achievable goals for the patient and family to start. Check on progress at the next office visit.

In the Community: Prevention Strategies / Resources / Information

• Serve as a role model. Health providers who “walk the talk” by making changes themselves will feel more comfortable advocating for healthy behaviors with their patients.
• Make the connection with community activities to strengthen buy-in. Examples include:
  • Join your local coalition of the Partnership for a fit Kentucky to address nutrition & physical activity in a coordinated manner.
  • Integrate healthcare activities with community, school, worksite and family initiatives. Form partnerships with community organizations to support or develop programs or tie into existing campaigns.
  • Be an advocate - Physicians can also successfully advocate for nutrition and physical activity policies in the community and area schools.
  • Enlist policy makers from local, state, and national organizations and schools to support a healthful lifestyle for all children, including proper diet and adequate opportunity for regular physical activity.
  • Encourage organizations that are responsible for health care and health care financing to provide coverage for effective obesity prevention and treatment strategies.
  • Encourage public and private sources to direct funding toward research into effective strategies to prevent overweight and obesity and to maximize limited family and community resources.
  • Help parents, teachers, coaches, and others who influence youth to discuss health habits as part of their efforts to control overweight and obesity. Integrate the family into healthy living initiatives by connecting healthcare activities to the whole family.

Physicians are experts in the healthcare arena and are respected as such by the general public. Governor Fletcher and first lady Glenna Fletcher, a physician and nurse by training respectively, know first hand the problems our state is faced with. Physicians could not have asked for a better time to become involved in advocacy, fund raising, policy and environmental change. Physicians are key players to help Kentucky reverse this obesity epidemic. Get involved, be an advocate, and help us build communities where healthy eating, daily physical activity, and healthy body weights are the norm, not the exception.