The Mayo Clinic research looked at over two and a half thousand obese people...

Research done at the world famous Mayo Clinic in America shows that the simple act of diagnosing a person as being clinically obese can greatly increase the likelihood of them getting proper help for their weight problem. This will make interesting reading for doctors and health professionals all around the world as there is a big debate on whether doctors should be forceful and direct with their patients when it comes obesity. Some people argue that doctors are often insensitive when it comes to talking to their patients about their weight problems and other doctors like to steer clear of the issue for fear of embarrassing the patient.

Obesity is clinically defined as when you have a Body Mass Index of 30 or more. According to the Mayo clinic, obesity is the second most leading reason for preventable death in developing nations. Speaking plainly and clearly to overweight and obese people about their weight problem can be done sensitively and carefully without offending them. It is important that doctors realise that the best way to speak to obese people about their weight is to highlight all of the health implications that are likely to occur as a result of the excessive weight. The range of illnesses that are caused and aggravated by obesity go from cancer to erectile dysfunction and are simply too numerous to list.

The Mayo Clinic research looked at over two and a half thousand obese people and noted that the ones that had a proper diagnosis of obesity were two and a half times more likely to get started on a weight loss plan of some sort when compared to those who were not diagnosed as obese. The researchers at the Mayo Clinic said that this evidence showed that doctors must be proactive when they discuss obesity with their patients and they should tell them if they BMI is more then 30.