About 9 years ago, while working as a medical writer, I visited a bariatric clinic in North Carolina as part of a research assignment for a client. Through interviews with various care providers, I learned about the practice’s holistic approach to weight loss, which included nutritional counseling, fitness training, physical therapy, and emotional support before and after the procedure. The idea was to instill lifestyle changes that would help patients remain healthy in the long-term.
Each time, I asked the same question: “What is the biggest challenge in getting patients to stay on track?” And nearly every time, the response was the same: getting them to buy in to the entire process.
“People want a silver bullet,” said Gina, the nutritionist. She told me that despite the fact that most of her patients are well-educated people, there was still a common belief that undergoing a procedure and making a few small changes was all it took to shed serious pounds — and keep them off. And in fact, an alarming number of people thought surgery alone was the solution to what is often a lifelong weight issue.
“So how do you deal with this?” I asked. “How do you get them to understand that there is no quick fix?”
The short answer? Patience, and a realization that modifying behaviors takes time. With that in mind, Gina and her team developed a multifaceted strategy to help grow trust and build adherence.
“It starts with education,” she said, handing me a packet detailing every step a patient had to take before a procedure could even be scheduled. There were videos, self-assessments, reading materials, and consultations with various care providers. Once all the criteria were met, an individual plan was developed and reviewed with the patient and his or her loved ones.
There was no stone left unturned — these patients knew everything they had to do, and everything they could expect throughout the process. And they weren’t going it alone, according to Gina, who said that after education, the most important component in guiding patients through this major change was support.
When I asked how they go about doing that, she started to answer, then stopped. “You know what? Come with me,” she said, leading me to a room where a group meeting was being held. I quickly learned that the woman leading the group wasn’t just a practice coordinator; she was a former patient. And as soon as she made that reveal, she had the attention of everyone in the room — and never lost it.
“It’s funny,” I remember Gina saying. “We used to show videos of people who had weight loss surgery, and no one would pay attention. But having Sarah right here and seeing how healthy she looks — it makes such a difference. They want to know what she did.”
Sure enough, a few people asked specific questions about how she dealt with the most difficult aspects of weight loss surgery, which she gladly answered. The participants also shared their own stories and reported on their progress. One woman talked about what items she chose at a salad bar, another announced she was participating in a 5K, and an older man reported that he had walked around a track twice. Each announcement was recognized, and met with applause.
It’s funny, but at the time I had no idea that I wasn’t just learning about a weight loss program — I was getting a crash course on change management. After seeing what wasn’t working, this particular team of providers sat down with patients, listened to what they liked and didn’t, looked at the results, and came up with a plan that walked people through change rather than trying to force it.
Education, a detailed road map, support, and recognition.
The result? Over time, the team saw a spike in adherence, which translated into improved outcomes and healthier patients.
To me, that beats a silver bullet any day.
Share Your Thoughts
You must be logged in to post a comment.