Scientists: Doctors give scientifically unfounded advice on weight loss

Recommendations on weight loss from doctors tend to be vague, superficial and unsupported by scientific evidence. This is the conclusion reached by scientists from Oxford University, whose article was published in the journal Family Practice.

The scientists analyzed 159 audio recordings of consultations with general practitioners and obese patients. All of the appointments took place in the United Kingdom between 2013 and 2014.

The study found that doctors' weight-loss advice rarely included effective methods and mostly consisted of telling patients to simply eat less and be more physically active. The advice was general in 97% of cases and rarely took into account patients' lifestyles and history of their struggles with being overweight.

The analysis also showed that when doctors did offer specific solutions, they were often not backed up scientifically and hardly resulted in actual weight loss.

"The notion that small changes in behavior, such as climbing stairs more often, can have a significant impact on weight loss is a common myth and even common in the scientific literature, but it is not supported by research. This study shows that doctors need clear guidelines on how to talk to patients about weight loss," the researchers said.

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