Are Your Patients Ready?
Is your patient ready to begin a weight management plan? Regardless of diagnosis, a patient who isn't dedicated to losing weight is unlikely to have a successful outcome.
The following questions will help you assess whether patients are ready to lose weight.
- I know I'm overweight, but I do not believe that this could be a
serious threat to my health.
Agree Disagree - My weight is beyond my control. Nothing I can do will make a difference.
Agree Disagree - I am happy just the way I am. I do not want to lose weight.
Agree Disagree - I would like to lose weight, but I can't do it right now. (I'm too
tired, busy, or stressed; there's too much going on in my life, etc)
Agree Disagree - I want to lose weight and am willing to do whatever I must to make that happen.
Agree Disagree
If the response to statements 1, 2, or 3 is "agree," your patient is probably not ready to lose weight right now. Consider steps to prevent further weight gain.
If the response to statement 4 is "agree," your patient is probably interested in losing weight but may not be ready or able to do what is needed to be successful. Consider steps to prevent further weight gain.
If the response to statement 5 is "agree," your patient is likely to be both interested in and ready to lose weight.
Return to: Tools for Professionals
Back to: The Proven Plan