By John A. Zambrano, MS, MHS and Bartolome Burguera, MD, PhD
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By using a pre-visit questionnaire that zeroes in on weight history, eating habits, and level of physical activity, effective obesity counseling can fit into a 20-minute appointment. This information will lay the foundation for effective weight loss counseling and interventions consistent with intensive behavioral therapy for obesity, reimbursable by Medicare.1
We offer the following targeted approach to counseling, achievable within the context of a primary care visit and based on recent evidence, including the 2013 joint guidelines for the treatment of obesity of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the Obesity Society.2
Start with screening
Measure the patient’s height and weight with the patient wearing light clothing and no shoes, and calculate the BMI as …