Episode Summary
Learn how to talk about weight with empathy, reduce stigma, and build trust without damaging rapport. Discover practical behavior change strategies—from open, judgment-free questions to motivational interviewing and the COM-B model—that help patients make realistic, lasting progress.
The session explains how clinicians can support behavior change in people with obesity while avoiding stigma and protecting the therapeutic relationship. A central focus is how to raise weight sensitively: using open, relevant, non-judgmental questions, linking the discussion to the person’s symptoms, and avoiding “why” questions that can make patients feel they must justify themselves.
It also covers common barriers clinicians face, including discomfort discussing weight, fear of damaging rapport, and the effects of weight bias in healthcare. Learners are shown why understanding obesity as a complex condition matters, and how stigma can reduce trust, communication, attendance, and treatment success.
The teaching then moves into behavior change theory, especially the COM-B model and the Theoretical Domains Framework, to help identify whether capability, opportunity, or motivation is limiting change. It also introduces behavior change techniques and emphasizes using a structured, evidence-based rationale rather than relying on intuition. Motivational interviewing is presented as a practical way to apply these ideas through collaboration, listening, reflection, and respect for patient autonomy.
