--- title: "Weight counseling for elderly patients in primary care | Sutter Health" description: "Study found that only a third of the visibly obese patients were counseled. Average time spent discussing the subject, if discussed, was 103 seconds." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/wt-counseling-elders-primary-care-1055312562" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Weight counseling for elderly patients in primary care # Weight counseling for elderly patients in primary care: how often and how much time. Tai-Seale T, Tai-Seale M, & Zhang W. _J Health Human Serv Adm. 30(4):420-440._ 2008-04-01 ## Abstract Some 20 million Americans over the age of 60 will soon be obese. As a result, they will likely suffer lower life-expectancy, higher disability, and higher health care costs. How much time do physicians spend with elders, especially obese elders, in helping them plan weight loss? This study, which analyzed 352 videotaped visits with elderly patients and their provider, has found that only a third of the visibly obese patients were counseled, and that the average time spent discussing the subject — if discussed — was 103 seconds. This is probably less than a fifth of the time needed to adequately counsel patients about weight loss. In addition, the study has found that both provider and patient characteristics determine if and how long discussion lasts. [PubMed abstract](http://www.jstor.org/stable/25790718?seq=1#fndtn-page_scan_tab_contents) ## Research topics - [Aging and Longevity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Aging+and+Longevity%5C%22%22) - [Health Disparities](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Disparities%5C%22%22) - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) - [Obesity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Obesity%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Variations between obese Latinos and Whites in weight-related counseling during preventive clinical visits in the U.S.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obese-latinos-whites-weight-related-counseling-1055312591) Ma J, Xiao L, Yank V. Obesity (Silver Spring). 21(8):1734-41. doi: 10.1002/oby.20285. Epub 2013 May 21. 2013 Aug 01 - Publication ### [Healthcare access and utilization among Korean Americans: the mediating role of English use and proficiency.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/healthcare-access-use-korean-ams-english-use-1055312415) Li J, Maxwell AE, Glenn BA, Herrmann AK, Chang LC, Crespi CM, Bastani R. Int J Soc Sci Res. 2016;4(1):83-97. 2016 Jan 21 - Publication ### [Understanding primary care physicians' propensity to assess elderly patients for depression using interaction and survey data.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pcp-propensity-assess-sr-pts-depression-1055312561) Tai-Seale M, Bramson R, Drukker D, Hurwicz ML, Ory M, Tai-Seale T, Street R Jr, Cook MA. Med Care. 43(12):1217-24. 2005 Dec 01 - Publication ### [Using citizen scientists to gather, analyze, and disseminate information about neighborhood features that affect active living.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/use-citizen-scientists-gather-info-active-living-1055312885) Winter SJ, Goldman Rosas L, Padilla Romero P, Sheats JL, Buman MP, Baker C, King AC. J Immigr Minor Health. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2015 Jul 17 - Publication ### [The effectiveness of two community-based weight loss strategies among obese, low-income US Latinos.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/community-wt-loss-programs-for-obese-latinos-1055312788) Rosas LG, Thiyagarajan S, Goldstein BA, Drieling RL, Romero PP, Ma J, Yank V, Stafford RS. J Acad Nutr Diet. pii: S2212-2672(14)01589-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2014.10.020. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2015 Jan 08 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/wt-counseling-elders-primary-care-1055312562#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Weight counseling for elderly patients in primary care"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/wt-counseling-elders-primary-care-1055312562#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Weight counseling for elderly patients in primary care: how often and how much time.","headline":"Weight counseling for elderly patients in primary care","abstract":"Some 20 million Americans over the age of 60 will soon be obese. As a result, they will likely suffer lower life-expectancy, higher disability, and higher health care costs. How much time do physicians spend with elders, especially obese elders, in helping them plan weight loss? This study, which analyzed 352 videotaped visits with elderly patients and their provider, has found that only a third of the visibly obese patients were counseled, and that the average time spent discussing the subject — if discussed — was 103 seconds. This is probably less than a fifth of the time needed to adequately counsel patients about weight loss. In addition, the study has found that both provider and patient characteristics determine if and how long discussion lasts.","description":"Study found that only a third of the visibly obese patients were counseled. Average time spent discussing the subject, if discussed, was 103 seconds.","keywords":["Aging and Longevity","Health Disparities","Health Services","Obesity"],"datePublished":"2008-04-01","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/wt-counseling-elders-primary-care-1055312562","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"J Health Human Serv Adm"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Tai-Seale T"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Tai-Seale M"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Zhang W"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Aging and Longevity","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Aging+and+Longevity%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Health Disparities","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Health+Disparities%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Health Services","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Health+Services%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Obesity","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Obesity%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/wt-counseling-elders-primary-care-1055312562","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/wt-counseling-elders-primary-care-1055312562#breadcrumblist"}}} ```