Doctors may help influence decisions for overweight individuals

New findings suggest that individuals who have been confronted by their doctor about the troubles of being obese or overweight appeared to be more willing to attempt to lose weight.

According to researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina and Imperial College London, individuals reacted favorably when a physician offered an honest opinion about their weight.

For the study, researchers analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 7,790 individuals who were between 20 and 64 years old. The survey measured body mass index (BMI) among other health information.

Researchers found that less than 50 percent of overweight and less than 70 percent of obese people have been told by a health professional that they had weight issues.

Because of that, nearly 40 percent of overweight people and almost 20 percent of obese individuals did not believe they personally had a weight problem.

Experts believe these findings suggest it to be very beneficial that physicians discuss BMI and potential BMI dangers with patients, regardless if they believe the situation to be obvious.

Additionally, individuals appeared more likely to change habits and be more willing to lose weight when the issue was originally presented by a doctor.