The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related comorbidities is rising. Primary care physicians are the frontline of healthcare and play a central role in the management of obesity. In this article, we discuss the 5As framework (Ask, Assess, Advise, Agree, and Assist) as a practical framework for obesity counselling, focusing on initiating the conversation and assessing the person with obesity. The assessment includes taking a weight history, excluding secondary causes, understanding lifestyle factors contributing to weight gain and assessing for complications of obesity. This assessment then makes it possible for subsequent patient engagement, including advising, agreeing (goal setting), and assisting the patient on an individualised care plan.

Humans ; Singapore ; Obesity

Obesity is a disease with a major negative impact on human health. However, people with obesity may not perceive their weight to be a significant problem and less than half of patients with obesity are advised by their physicians to lose weight. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of managing overweight and obesity by discussing the adverse consequences and impact of obesity. In summary, obesity is strongly related to >50 medical conditions, with many of them having evidence from Mendelian randomisation studies to support causality. The clinical, social and economic burdens of obesity are considerable, with these burdens potentially impacting future generations as well. This review highlights the adverse health and economic consequences of obesity and the importance of an urgent and concerted effort towards the prevention and management of obesity to reduce the burden of obesity.
Humans ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Physicians