Citerank: (7) 370326Many health professionals still have inadequate knowledgeMany recently trained health professionals still have an inadequate knowledge of the nutritional aspects of health promotion and disease treatment and the potential benefits of regular physical activity.1198CE71, 381551Knowledge gaps on pathophysiology A US study [1] designed to assess the knowledge and practice patterns of primary care physicians (PCPs), endocrinologists (ENDOs), cardiologists (CARDs) and bariatricians (BARIs) regarding obesity found that respondents demonstrated knowledge gaps on pathophysiology.1198CE71, 381552Lack of understanding of obesity medication efficacy and safetyA US study [1] designed to assess the knowledge and practice patterns of primary care physicians (PCPs), endocrinologists (ENDOs), cardiologists (CARDs) and bariatricians (BARIs) regarding obesity found that respondents generally lacked understanding of obesity medication efficacy, safety and MOA.1198CE71, 399734Many health professionals still have inadequate knowledgeMany recently trained health professionals still have an inadequate knowledge of the nutritional aspects of health promotion and disease treatment and the potential benefits of regular physical activity.1198CE71, 399828Knowledge gaps on obesity guidelinesA US study [1] designed to assess the knowledge and practice patterns of primary care physicians (PCPs), endocrinologists (ENDOs), cardiologists (CARDs) and bariatricians (BARIs) regarding obesity found that respondents demonstrated knowledge gaps on obesity guidelines.1198CE71, 399829Knowledge gaps on pathophysiology A US study [1] designed to assess the knowledge and practice patterns of primary care physicians (PCPs), endocrinologists (ENDOs), cardiologists (CARDs) and bariatricians (BARIs) regarding obesity found that respondents demonstrated knowledge gaps on pathophysiology.1198CE71, 399830Lack of understanding of obesity medication efficacy and safetyA US study [1] designed to assess the knowledge and practice patterns of primary care physicians (PCPs), endocrinologists (ENDOs), cardiologists (CARDs) and bariatricians (BARIs) regarding obesity found that respondents generally lacked understanding of obesity medication efficacy, safety and MOA.1198CE71

> Objective: Approximately 35% of US adults are obese. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice patterns of primary care physicians (PCPs), endocrinologists (ENDOs), cardiologists (CARDs) and bariatricians (BARIs) regarding obesity.

> Methods: A case vignette survey was distributed to 1625 US-based PCPs, ENDOs, CARDs, and BARIs via email and fax in February 2013. Results were analysed with PASW Statistics 18.

> Results: Respondents included 100 PCPs, 100 ENDOs, 70 CARDs, and 30 BARIs. The majority agreed obesity is a disease as defined by the AMA, however, half of PCPs, ENDOs, and CARDs also agreed obesity results from a lack of self-control. Familiarity with select obesity guidelines was low. Nearly all respondents used body mass index for obesity screening. No consensus as to when to initiate weight-loss medication was observed. Many physicians expected a larger weight loss with pharmacotherapy than is realistic (∼30%) or were unsure (∼22%). A majority of PCPs, ENDOs and CARDs expected less excess weight loss with gastric bypass surgery than is realistic, BARIs had a more reasonable expectation.

> Conclusions: Overall, respondents demonstrated knowledge gaps for obesity guidelines and pathophysiology and generally lacked understanding of obesity medication efficacy, safety and MOA.