Health · Healthcare & Policy · 2 hrs ago
Weight came up in 39% of recorded diabetes care visits
Researchers examined 123 primary care visits in New Haven, Connecticut, involving adults with type 2 diabetes and elevated BMI.
Weight came up in 48 visits, or 39%, and was discussed more often with patients taking GLP-1 medicines.
Clinicians started 56% of the weight-related conversations, while all patient-led discussions began with patients.
When clinicians started a conversation, they recommended specific physical activity more often than when patients did: 44% compared with 14%.
Conversations often included diet or diabetes medicines linked to weight loss, but social factors and dietitian referrals were rarely discussed, and bariatric surgery was not raised.
Because weight management can affect diabetes care, the findings show that conversations about it were limited and often clinician-led.
Weight was mentioned in 48 of 123 recorded primary care visits involving adults with type 2 diabetes and elevated BMI, or 39% of encounters.
Clinicians initiated 56% of the weight-related conversations.
Clinicians recommended specific physical activity in 44% of conversations they initiated, compared with 14% of conversations initiated by patients.
Researchers found that clinicians rarely explored social factors affecting health or recommended referral to a dietitian.
The study analyzed recordings from a community health center in New Haven, Connecticut.
- Who
- Researchers at Yale School of Medicine analyzed conversations between clinicians and adults with type 2 diabetes and elevated BMI.
- What
- The study examined how often weight came up in routine diabetes visits and how the conversations unfolded.
- When
- The study was published on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- A community health center in New Haven, Connecticut.
- Why
- Researchers examined clinicians’ and patients’ approaches to weight discussions during routine diabetes care.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers analyzed 123 video recordings of patient-clinician encounters at a community health center in New Haven, Connecticut.
The study was reported as published in the journal BMC Primary Care.
- Recorded encounters
- 123
- Visits mentioning weight
- 48, or 39%
- Clinician-initiated discussions
- 56% of weight-related conversations
- Specific physical activity advice
- 44% of clinician-initiated conversations; 14% of patient-initiated conversations
- Social determinants explored
- 17% of weight-related discussions
- Dietitian referrals recommended
- 13% of weight-related discussions
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