Overweight visit GP more than smokers
Released 16/08/2010
Strain on GP services to rise with obesity
Obese people are more likely to visit their GP more frequently than smokers or those who are generally unfit, according to researcher by a Dutch university.
However, the researchers could not conclude from the study why overweigth people visit their GP more often - the findings cannot be explained by their having a higher risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes.
Rising rates of obesity means nurses may have to take some of the pressure off doctors, the analysis published in medical journal Family Practice revealed.
The team from Maastricht University speculated, after looking at the GP data from almost 4,500 adults, obese patients may have more minor complaints, such as sleep problems or musculoskeletal pain.
Researcher Dr Marjan van den Akker said GPs would come under increasing pressure as obesity becomes more common and other ways of managing demand may need to be considered.
"The role of the nurse practitioner is already common in diabetic patients, chronic lung disease and the elderly, so it's very feasible that they could take on this role."
Dr David Haslam, a GP and chair of the National Obesity Forum, said the results reflected what he saw in his practice, confirming: "Practice nurses are the mainstay of treating these patients because they can spend longer with them and have the opportunity to give lifestyle advice."
Additional source: BBC
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