Obesity-Friendly Health Care Services - A pragmatic approach

J Pak Med Assoc. 2021 Nov;71(11):2676-2677.

Abstract

With the rising obesity pandemic, a large number of patients seek healthcare facilities. However, many healthcare centers are inept in catering to provide a friendly infrastructure to cater patients with obesity. In this paper we provide a simple, easily adaptable framework that could enhance health care facilities making them for friendly to patients with obesity. We propose an eight A framework namely, Awareness, Availability, Accessibility, Affordability, Attractiveness, All-inclusiveness, Attitudes of assistance and Auditability. The first four attributes relate to encourage the patient to seek health care by making it attractive and the next 4 attributes enhance adherence to the given advice. In addition, we also describe the components of obesity friendly.

Keywords: Obesity, Health care delivery, obesity friendly practice, Person centered approach.

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care*
  • Health Facilities*
  • Health Services
  • Humans
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / prevention & control