A team of researchers from the University of Oxford (UK) believes this to be true. Scientists recommend that doctors harness the power of positive thinking if they want their patients to lose weight more effectively.
Obesity is a dangerous condition that can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and dementia. According to statistics, about 20 percent of the population in European countries suffers from obesity, while in the U.S., the figure is 36%.
A new study revealed that patients whose doctors emphasized the positive outcomes of weight loss during treatment were more successful in shedding pounds than those whose doctors focused on the negative consequences of obesity or maintained a neutral stance.
Patients who received a positive boost from their doctors during the study lost four times more excess weight compared to those whose doctors took a neutral approach to the process.
What Scientists Discovered
During their research, scientists observed that a positive approach to treatment is, in fact, the least common among doctors. The most prevalent attitude among medical professionals is a neutral one, as reported by Science Focus.
The university team analyzed conversations between patients and doctors during a 12-week weight loss program. They then examined the relationship between the doctors’ approach (attitude) and the patients’ success in losing weight.
The researchers divided doctors into three distinct groups based on their treatment approach. The first group consisted of those who encouraged patients with positive outcomes and hardly focused on obesity, body mass index, or excess weight as problems. The researchers described their communication style as smooth and empathetic.
Patients of these doctors lost an average of 4.8 kg during the program. In contrast, patients in the second group, whose doctors emphasized the negative aspects of obesity, lost only 2.7 kg. The researchers noted that the language style of these doctors was characterized by regret and pessimism.
However, the worst results were seen in patients of doctors who maintained a neutral attitude toward the process, offering no comments on the program’s progress, either positive or negative. Their indifference was evident in their behavior. As a result, these patients lost an average of just 1.2 kg.
The researchers believe that the positive influence of optimistic doctors is due to a higher level of empathy toward patients and a genuine interest in the outcomes of the program.
The findings of the study were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.