Exam Room Nutrition: Where Busy Clinicians Learn About Nutrition

68 | The Right Way to Talk Weight: Simple Tips for Busy, Burned-Out Clinicians

Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RDN Episode 68

Do you feel awkward talking about a patients weight? You know you should talk about it, but aren’t really sure when and how? And you definitely don’t want to offend or shame the patient, but you know they really need to make some changes to their health. In this episode of the Exam Room Nutrition podcast, I team up with Nina, a registered dietitian and PhD health psychologist to explore how to discuss a patient's weight in a compassionate yet effective manner. Balancing the need to provide life-saving information with genuine care, you’ll learn practical strategies to engage patients in meaningful conversations about their health.

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Key Takeaways:

  1. Understanding the Tension: We explore the delicate balance between sharing crucial health information about weight and doing so in a way that shows genuine care for the patient.
  2. Avoiding Burnout: Learn why a curiosity-driven approach—where you ask patients about their struggles and what they want to work on—can prevent clinician burnout. 
  3. Sparking Change: Actionable tips for making the most of limited time with patients. Discover how simple, effective strategies can fit into your busy schedule and still make a significant impact. 
  4. Beyond the Numbers: Learn why it's crucial to go beyond metrics like BMI and focus on what truly matters to patients. By aligning discussions with their personal goals and values, you foster a more supportive and productive dialogue.

Resources:

Why Wait Guide
Connect with Nina on LinkedIn

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Disclaimer: This podcast is a collection of ideas, strategies, and opinions of the author(s). Its goal is to provide useful information on each of the topics shared within. It is not intended to provide medical, health, or professional consultation or to diagnosis-specific weight or feeding challenges. The author(s) advises the reader to always consult with appropriate health, medical, and professional consultants for support for individual children and family situations. The author(s) do not take responsibility for the personal or other risks, loss, or liability incurred as a direct or indirect consequence of the application or use of information provided. All opinions stated in this podcast are my own and do not reflect the opinions of my employer.

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