Prevalence and Predictors of Obesity-Related Counseling Provided by Outpatient Psychiatrists in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to identify rates and predictors of obesity counseling performed by outpatient psychiatrists in the United States.

METHODS

The 2005-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys provided data from 7,309 outpatient psychiatry visits. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between patient, visit, and practice characteristics and outcomes.

RESULTS

Most (81%) visits occurred in a private practice setting. Nine percent (N=657) of visits included measurement of patient body mass index (BMI); 30% of these visits were with patients who met the obesity criterion (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m). Among visits with obese patients, 16% included exercise counseling, 22% included weight reduction counseling, and 24% included diet or nutrition counseling. Patients with obesity were more likely than patients without obesity to receive diet or nutrition counseling (p<.05) and weight reduction counseling (p<.05), but not exercise counseling. Black patients were significantly less likely to receive any form of counseling (p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant need to improve psychiatrists' obesity counseling.