Sun management of obesity by general practitioners: self-reported difficulties and suggestions for improvement

International audience; Rationale:15% of French people15 yrs were obese in 2012.However, a few data on the self-perception ofmanagement of obesity by general practitioners (GP) are available. Aims of the study were to note the reported GP difficulties faced to obesity, their suggestions for improvement and their opinion on care.Methods:200 GP of a French district fulfilled an anonymous questionnaire reporting epidemiological GP data, their perceived difficulties about obesity, suggestions for improvement and global opinion. Statistical tests were Chi2 Fisher’s Student’s t tests, variance analysis.Results:34.0% of GP responded. 6.5% of their patients were obese. GP related to patients the five most cited difficulties:poor respect of physical activity advice (94.1%) of diet advice (91.1%) of psychological advice (72.0%) lack of motivation (92.6%) presence of eating disorders (83.8%). 58.8% of GP felt themselves ineffective, 52.9% thought they had too little time and 50.0% too little training. 28.0% were not interestedby obesity. Lack of training was positively related to feeling of inefficacy (p = 0.007) lack of time (p = 0.03) disinterest for obesity (p = 0.0002). The main suggestions for improvement were to achieve a family feeding and school education (83.8% and 80.9%), better manage childhood obesity (83.8%), improvepsychological care (76.5%), warn on effects of time spent in front of screens (70.5%) repay consultations by dieticians (69.1%). 82.4% of GP were unsatisfied by their global care of obesity.Conclusion:Coaching obese patients is important in GP activity but leaves them unsatisfied. They mainly relate obstacles to patients, but the lack of medical training is badly felt, with an impact on their self-perceived effectiveness.They think that family and school preventive actions are priorities. Improving the development of several sectors of care and networks could be explored.