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Eating habits, beliefs, attitudes and knowledge among health professionals regarding the links between obesity, nutrition and health

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

CR Hankey ,
S Eley ,
WS Leslie ,
CM Hunter  and
MEJ Lean
CR Hankey*
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow Department of Human Nutrition, Queen Elizabeth Building, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK
S Eley
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
WS Leslie
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow Department of Human Nutrition, Queen Elizabeth Building, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK
CM Hunter
Affiliation:
Skene Medical Group, Westhill Drive, Westhill, Aberdeen AB32 6RL, UK
MEJ Lean
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow Department of Human Nutrition, Queen Elizabeth Building, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Email c.r.hankey@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Objective:

To document knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and eating habits of health professionals with respect to obesity, nutrition and weight management.

Design:

A self-complete questionnaire postal survey.

Setting:

Primary care and dietetic practice in Scotland.

Subjects:

A systematic stratified sample of 2290 subjects incorporated general practitioners (n = 1400), practice nurses (n = 613) and all practising dietitians (n = 360) who were members of the British Dietetic Association.

Results:

The overall response rate was 65%. All professionals showed a clear understanding of nutrition and health. Understanding of obesity as a disease and of the effectiveness of weight management using low-energy diets was limited. Below 10% had carried out audit to determine the incidence of obesity and overweight, and most were uncertain about their own effectiveness in delivering weight management advice.

Conclusion:

This study confirms that health professionals have some knowledge of nutrition and weight management but are unclear how to deliver effective weight management advice. Further training is justified to ensure the effective provision of nutritional advice to patients.

Keywords

Nutrition knowledgeObesity and overweightGeneral practitionersPractice nursesDietitians
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , April 2004 , pp. 337 - 343
Copyright
Copyright © CAB International 2004

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