Obesity Counseling Experience for Third Year Medical Students

Abstract

Abstract Introduction This resource is part of a medical nutrition curriculum to prepare students to assess and counsel patients about nutrition and weight management. This curriculum includes PowerPoint presentations, assigned readings and discussions to prepare medical students to interact with a patient referred to a weight management class. Methods This resource also includes descriptions of patient nutrition and obesity assessment and counseling tools. A PowerPoint and forms used in a weight management class for patients also are included. This resource can be used to meet a medical student education need within a clinical service for weight management. Results Since 2011, this program has been implemented, with positive evaluation from medical students, as one required educational activity in the third-year family medicine clerkship. The students evaluate this activity as one item in the clerkship evaluation which is conducted by the Dean of Student Affairs. Students are asked to comment on the value of the obesity counseling exercise giving a score of 1-5 on items related to preparation for class; their perceived ability to answer questions appropriately, and the overall value of the session. The ratings this experience typically receives are “4” or “5” for each item. Occasionally a student will rate the overall value as a “3.” Those ratings usually come from students who do not believe obesity treatment will be part of their medical work. Discussion This resource is part of a medical nutrition curriculum to prepare students to assess and counsel patients about nutrition and weight management. It is shared to provide an example of how medical students can be guaranteed an exposure to a motivated patient seeking weight management.

Keywords

• Weight Gain
• Obesity
• Weight Assessment
• Body Weight
• Weigh Loss
• Weight Perception