Specialised skills are required to support weight management efforts

Patients felt that a specialised skill set was necessary to be able to address the complex issue of weight. Patients spoke about the fundamental importance of rapport in order to feel comfortable to discuss weight but they also wanted to know that the clinician had received additional training in the area of weight management for credibility. Patients spoke about how weight should not be the sole or initial focus of their care.

“I think it’s all human connection. I mean you can go to a person who is absolutely awful, who’s got the knowledge but you don’t feel comfortable talking to them”

“I’d feel comfortable discussing weight with a physiotherapist if I thought it was somebody who had some experience – if that person said ‘I do have some experience in this field, I’ve studied something”