GPs are hesitant to discuss lifestyle choices with patients, suggests a new survey from Aviva UK Health .
The health insurer polled 200 GPs and found that 47 per cent avoided raising the issue of obesity with patients. Almost one in five (19 per cent) were reluctant to discuss alcohol misuse, while 13 per cent avoided bringing up the topic of smoking .
Two in five (42 per cent) GPs have refrained from advising a patient that they are obese, rising to 47 per cent when it comes to the weight of a patient’s child.
Dr. Doug Wright, principal clinical consultant at Aviva UK Health, said: “Although it can be difficult to raise personal issues about weight or lifestyle, allowing them to remain unchecked can be costly in the long run. GPs are tremendously busy and under pressure to deal with high numbers of patients and a growing administrative workload. It’s therefore important that individuals continue to be encouraged to take more control of their own health.”