Few Obese Patients with Gynecologic Cancers Counseled on Weight Loss

CHICAGO, IL— Obese patients with gynecologic cancer are rarely counseled on weight loss, even though they expect to be, and report that such discussions would not offend them, according to research presented at the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

The study “highlights the low degree to which patients report provider involvement in weight management, despite a strong expectation to the contrary,” reported lead author Robert Neff, MD, at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, and coauthors.

A total of 244 patients completed a 49-item survey about obesity, patient understanding of its health risks, and their health behaviors, attitudes, and preferences regarding clinician involvement in weight management efforts.

Half of the respondents were clinically obese (BMI >30 kg/m²) and 37% were current or former smokers.

“Only 20% of obese individuals reported receiving weight-loss counseling from their GOP [gynecologic oncology provider],” Neff reported.

In contrast, 80% of current smokers received smoking-cessation counseling, he noted.

Patients strongly expect health-behaviors counseling from their oncologists, and report that they would not be offended by clinician counseling on weight management, the survey responses showed.

“This is the first report of gynecologic oncology patients’ attitudes regarding obesity and weight loss,” Neff noted.

Abstract #e20589