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OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a simple and practical guide for discussing and managing obesity in primary care settings. METHODS This study convened representatives from 12 primary care and obesity specialty organizations for a series of roundtable meetings to discuss the key components of obesity treatment in primary care. Attendees identified the need for a guide for primary care providers that outlined the key steps for discussing obesity with patients and managing their care while recognizing the significant time constraints on such provider/patient encounters. RESULTS Prevailing themes from the roundtable sessions suggested that the key components of addressing obesity in primary care settings are obtaining patient permission, addressing weight bias, providing a diagnosis, and emphasizing shared decision-making. A modified "6A" framework with the steps "Ask," "Assess," "Advise," "Agree," "Assist," and "Arrange" was deemed appropriate to organize the process of weight management in primary care. An algorithm was developed to provide a script for the patient/provider encounter. CONCLUSIONS The expert panel developed a short, accessible, practical, and informative guide for obesity management by primary care clinicians. Efforts are under way to disseminate the guide to primary care providers through the 11 participating organizations that have endorsed it.

Departments of Medicine and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (A.C.P.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232; Medtronic Diabetes (R.A.V.), Minneapolis, Minnesota 55432; Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (R.A.V.), Bethesda, Maryland 20814; MedStar Washington Hospital Center (J.A.W.), Washington, DC 20010; University of Michigan Health System (R.W.L.), Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108; and the Endocrine Society (M.C.D., M.N.B.), Washington, DC 20036