General Practitioners’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Dietary Advice for Weight Control in Their Overweight Patients: A Scoping Review

Received: 29 May 2023 / Revised: 15 June 2023 / Accepted: 21 June 2023 / Published: 27 June 2023
(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition and Public Health)

Abstract

This scoping review assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of general practitioners (GPs) regarding dietary advice for weight management. A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and MEDLINE was conducted for any qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies published in the past five years that informed GPs’ dietary advice for weight control. Thirteen studies were included in the analysis after screening 881 papers. These studies tended to focus mostly on GPs’ practices rather than their knowledge and attitudes. The most frequently mentioned dietary advice was to reduce calorie intake; however, 32 different types of dietary advice were identified in the literature, including approaches such as intermittent fasting and a ketogenic diet that are not recommended in current guidelines. GPs showed varying levels of knowledge and attitudes regarding the best dietary advice for patients. Further research is needed to better understand GP perspectives, with efforts to assist GPs in providing tailored advice based on the latest evidence to improve patient outcomes required.

Abstract

We examined the personal dietary weight-loss strategies of female physicians and what they recommend to their patients. The most common personal dietary strategies were 14–24 h intermittent fasting (72%); very low-carbohydrate, ketogenic (46%); and calorie-restricted low-carbohydrate (26%). They reported recommending similar methods to their patients, with some exceptions.