A new study led by Dr. Maya Mathur of Stanford Medicine highlights the disparity between physicians’ beliefs and empirical evidence concerning the mortality risks associated with being overweight.
The study finds that a majority of primary care physicians hold misconceptions about the lifespan and mortality risk of people who are overweight.
The Study
Dr. Maya Mathur, an assistant professor at Stanford Medicine’s Quantitative Sciences Unit, and her mother, Vandana Mathur, a practicing physician and biomedical researcher, surveyed nearly 200 primary care doctors in the U.S. about their perceptions on the mortality risks of overweight patients.
The findings revealed that 90% of the physicians believed that being overweight decreased patients’ life expectancy, contradicting clinical guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
These guidelines indicate that being overweight does not necessarily increase mortality risk.
The Reality
Dr. Mathur’s inquiry was initially sparked by her surprise at previous research contradicting common beliefs about being overweight.
Studies from 2013 and 2016 provided conflicting evidence on the mortality risk for overweight individuals, and Mathur noted that both studies had methodological limitations, particularly concerning controlling for diet and physical activity.
The researchers observed a significant disconnect between physicians’ perceptions and the available empirical data.
Mathur attributes this gap to ambiguous or misleading messages from the medical establishment and also suggests that social stigma may play a role.
Impact on Doctor-Patient Relationship
This disparity in understanding can have serious implications. Misconceptions held by physicians could lead to undue stress for patients and could undermine the patient-doctor trust relationship.
Future Directions
Dr. Mathur believes that future research should explore the factors shaping doctors’ beliefs and perceptions and how they affect their interactions with patients.
She also calls for an examination of the perspectives of healthcare providers in other countries.
Recommendations
Mathur recommends that doctors adhere strictly to empirical data when discussing weight-related topics with patients.
She suggests that patients, faced with prevalent but possibly misleading societal messaging about weight, should actively question any claims about overweight BMI being a significant risk factor for specific health issues.
Conclusion
The study uncovers a worrying gap between physician perceptions and scientific evidence regarding the health implications of being overweight.
It calls for a better alignment between clinical guidelines, healthcare provider training, and empirical data to improve doctor-patient communications and healthcare outcomes.
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The research findings can be found in Epidemiology.
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