Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Motivational Interviewing in Medical Settings

Application to Obesity Conceptual Issues and Evidence Review

  • Chapter
Book cover Treatment of the Obese Patient

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

Counseling by health care professionals represents a potentially important component of the public health response to rising rates of obesity in the United States. One promising approach to weight control counseling is motivational interviewing (MI). This manuscript explores conceptual issues related to the application of MI for the prevention and treatment of obesity in medical practice. Given the paucity of studies on MI and obesity, we examine what is known about the application of MI to adult diet and physical activity behaviors, as well as the use of MI to modify weight, diet, and activity in children and adolescents. We begin with a brief overview of MI and describe some nuances of applying this approach to obesity counseling. Recommendations for future research and clinical practice are also presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Finkelstein E, Fiebelkorn I, Wang G. National medical spending attributable to overweight and obesity: How much, and who’s paying? Health Affairs 2003;W3:219–226.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wolf A, Colditz GA. Current estimates of the economic cost of obesity in the United States. Obes Res 1998;6(2): 97–106.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Must A, Spadano J, Coakley EH, et al. The disease burden associated with overweight and obesity. JAMA 1999;282(16): 1523–1529.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Dietz W. Health consequences of obesity in youth: childhood predictors of adult disease. Pediatrics 1998;101(Suppl):518–525.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Grizzard T. Undertreatment of obesity. JAMA 2002;288(17):2177.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kushner RF. Barriers to providing nutrition counseling by physicians: a survey of primary care practitioners. Prev Med 1995;24(6):546–552.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Manson JE, Skerrett PJ, Greenland P, et al. The escalating pandemics of obesity and sedentary lifestyle. A call to action for clinicians. Arch Intern Med 2004; 164(3):249–258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Nawaz H, Adams ML, Katz DL. Physician-patient interactions regarding diet, exercise, and smoking. Prev Med 2000;31(6):652–657.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Galuska DA, Will JC, Serdula MK, et al. Are health care professionals advising obese patients to lose weight? JAMA 1999;282(16): 1576–1578.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Simkin-Silverman LR, Gleason KA, et al. Predictors of weight control advice in primary care practices: patient health and psychosocial characteristics. Prev Med 2005;40(l):71–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sciamanna C, Täte D, Lang W, et al. Who reports receiving advice to lose weight? Results from a multi-state survey. Arch Intern Med 2000; 160::2334–2339.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ma J, Urizar GG Jr, Alehegn T, et al. Diet and physical activity counseling during ambulatory care visits in the United States. Prev Med 2004;39(4):815–822.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Scott JG, Cohen D, DiCicco-Bloom B, et al. Speaking of weight: how patients and primary care clinicians initiate weight loss counseling. Prev Med 2004;38(6):819–827.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kolasa KM. Strategies to enhance effectiveness of individual based nutrition communications. Eur J Clin Nutr 2005;59Suppl 1:S24–S29; discussion S30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kolagotla L, Adams W. Ambulatory management of childhood obesity. Obes Res 2004;12(2):275–283.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Story MT, Neumark-Stzainer DR, Sherwood NE, et al. Management of child and adolescent obesity: attitudes, barriers, skills, and training needs among health care professionals. Pediatrics 2002; 110(1): 210–214.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Perrin EM, Flower KB, Garrett J, et al. Preventing and treating obesity: pediatricians’ self-efficacy, barriers, resources, and advocacy. Amb Pediatr 2005;5(3): 150–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Rogers L, Bailey J, Gutin B, et al. Teaching resident physicians to provide exercise counseling: a needs assessment. Acad Med 2002;77(8):841–844.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Huang J, Yu IT, Marin E, et al. Physicians’ weight loss counseling in two public hospital primary care climes. Acad Med 2004;79:156–161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Jelalian E, Boergers J, Alday CS, et al. Survey of physician attitudes and practices related to pediatric obesity. Clin Pediatr 2003;42(3):235–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Mihalynuk TV, Knopp RH, Scott CS, et al. Physician informational needs in providing nutritional guidance to patients. Fam Med 2004;36(10):722–726.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Miller WR. Motivational interviewing with problem drinkers. Behav Psychother 1983; 11(2): 147–172.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Miller W, Rollnick S. Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People to Change Addictive Behavior. Guilford Press, New York: 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rollnick S, Heather N, Gold R, et al. Development of a short “readiness to change” questionnaire for use in brief, opportunistic interventions among excessive drinkers. Br J Addiction 1992;87(5):743–754.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Heather N, Rollnick S, Bell A, et al. Effects of brief counselling among male heavy drinkers identified on general hospital wards. Drug Alcohol Rev 1996;15(l):29–38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kadden RM. Project MATCH: treatment main effects and matching results. Alcoholism Clin Exper Res 1996;20(8 Suppl): 196A–197A.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Burke BL, Arkowitz H, Menchola M. The efficacy of motivational interviewing: a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. J Consult Clin Psychol 2003;71(5):843–861.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Dunn C, Deroo L, Rivara F. The use of brief interventions adapted from motivational interviewing across behavioral domains: a systematic review. Addiction 2001;96(12): 1725–1742.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Colby SM, Monti PM, Baroett NP, et al. Brief motivational interviewing in a hospital setting for adolescent smoking: a preliminary study. J Consult Clin Psychol 1998;66(3):574–578.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ershoff DH, Quinn VP, Boyd NR, et al. The Kaiser Permanente prenatal smoking cessation trial: When more isn’t better, what is enough? Am J Prev Med 1999;17(3): 161–168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Stott NCH, Rollnick S, Pill RM. Innovation in clinical method: diabetes care and negotiating skills. Fam Pract 1995;12(4):413–418.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Miller WR Motivational interviewing: research, practice, and puzzles. Addict Behav 1996;21(6): 835–842.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Velasquez M, Hecht J, Quinn V, et al. Application of motivational interviewing to prenatal smoking cessation: training and implementation issues. Tobacco Cont 2000;9(Supp III):36–40.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Berg-Smith S, Stevens V, Brown K, et al. A brief motivational intervention to improve dietary adherence in adolescents. Health Educ Res 1999;14(3):399–410.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Smith D, Heckemeyer C, Kratt P, et al. Motivational interviewing to improve adherence to a behavioral weight-control program for older obese women with NIDDM. Diabetes Care 1997;20(l):52–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Emmons K, Rollnick S. Motivational interviewing in health care settings: opportunities and limitations. Am J Prev Med 2001;20(l):68–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Resnicow K, Jackson A, Wang T, et al. A motivational interviewing intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake through black churches: results of the Eat for Life trial. Am J Pub Health 2001;91: 1686–1693.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Resnicow K, DiIorio C, Soet JE, et al. Motivational interviewing in health promotion: it sounds like something is changing. Health Psychol 2002;21(5):444–451.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Butler C, Rollnick S, Cohen D, et al. Motivational consulting versus brief advice for smokers in general practice: a randomized trial. Br J Gen Pract 1999;49:611–616.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Rollnick S, Miller WR. What is motivational interviewing? Behav Cogn Psychother 1995;23(4):325–334.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Rollnick S, Butler C, Cambridge J, etal. Consultations about behaviour change. BMJ 2005;331(7522): 961–963.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Carkhuff R. The Art of Helping. 7th ed. Human Resource Development Press, Amherst, MA: 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Rollnick S, Mason P, Butler C. Health Behavior Change: A Guide for Practitioners. Churchill Livingstone (Harcourt Brace), London: 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Bern D. Self-perception theory. In: Berkowitz L, ed. Advances in Experimetnal Social Psychology. Academic Press, New York: 1972; pp. 1–62.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Rollnick S, Butler CC, Stott N. Helping smokers make decisions: The enhancement of brief intervention for general medical practice. Patient Educ Counsel 1997;31(3): 191–203.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Resnicow K. Obesity prevention and treatment in youth: what is known? In: Trowbridge FL, Kibbe D, eds. Childhood Obesity: Partnerships for Research and Prevention. ILSI Press, Washington, DC: 2002; pp. 11–30.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Knight KM, Bundy C, Morris R, et al. The effects of group motivational interviewing and externalizing conversations for adolescents with Type-1 diabetes. Psychol Health Med 2003;8(2): 149–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Channon S, Smith VJ, Gregory JW. A pilot study of motivational interviewing in adolescents with diabetes. Arch Dis Child 2003;88(8):680–683.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Bowen D, Ehret C, Pedersen M, et al. Results of an adjunct dietary intervention program in the Women’s Health Initiative. J Am Diet Assn 2002;102(l1): 1631–1637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Woollard J, Burke V, Beilin LJ. Effects of general practice-based nurse-counselling on ambulatory blood pressure and antihypertensive drug prescription in patients at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. J Hum Hypertens 2003;17(10):689–695.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Woollard J, Burke V, Beilin LJ, et al. Effects of a general practice-based intervention on diet, body mass index and blood lipids in patients at cardiovascular risk. J Cardiovasc Risk 2003;10(l):31–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Mhurchu CN, Margetts BM, Speller V. Randomized clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of two dietary interventions for patients with hyperlipidaemia. Clin Sei 1998;95(4):479–487.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Harland J, White M, Drinkwater C, et al. The Newcastle exercise project: a randomised controlled trial of methods to promote physical activity in primary care. BMJ 1999;319(7213):828–832.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Resnicow K, Jackson A, Blissett D, et al. Results of the Healthy Body Healthy Spirit Trial. Health Psychol 2005;24(4):339–348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Wasserman R, Slora E, Bocian A, et al. Pediatric research in office settings (PROS): a national practice-based research network to improve children’s health care. Pediatrics 1998; 102(6): 1350–1357.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Resnicow K, Taylor R, Baskin M. Results of Go Girls: a nutrition and physical activity intervention for overweight African American adolescent females conducted through black churches. Obes Res 2005;13(10): 1739–1748.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Woollard J, Beilin L, Lord T, et al. A controlled trial of nurse counselling on lifestyle change for hypertensives treated in general practice: preliminary results. Clin Exper Pharmacol Physiol 1995;22(6–7):466–468.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Resnicow K, Coleman-Wallace D, Jackson A, et al. Dietary change through black churches: baseline results and program description of the Eat for Life trial. J Cancer Educ 2000;15:156–163.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Resnicow K, Campbell MK, Carr C, et al. Body and soul. A dietary intervention conducted through African-American churches. Am J Prev Med 2004;27(2):97–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Hedges L, Olkin NI. Statistical Methods for Meta-Analysis. Academic Press, New York: 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Dunn C, Deroo L, Rivara FP. The use of brief interventions adapted from motivational interviewing across behavioral domains: a systematic review, [see comment]. Addiction 2001;96(12): 1725–1742.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Campbell MK, Motsinger BM, Ingram A, et al. The North Carolina Black Churches United for Better Health Project: intervention and process evaluation. Health Educ Behav 2000;27(2):241–253.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Campbell MK, Demark-Wahnefried W, Symons M, et al. Fruit and vegetable consumption and prevention of cancer: the Black Churches United for Better Health project. Am J Pub Health 1999; 89(9): 1390–1396.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Miller W, Mount K. A smal 1 study of training in motivational interviewing: does one workshop change clinician and client behavior? Behav Cogn Psychother 2001;29:457–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Thompson FE, Kipnis V, Subar AF, et al. Evaluation of 2 brief instruments and a food-frequency questionnaire to estimate daily number of servings of fruit and vegetables. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71(6): 1503–1510.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Resnicow K, Odom E, Wang T, et al. Validation of three food frequency questionnaires and twenty four hour recalls with serum carotenoids in a sample of African American adults. Am J Epidemiol 2000; 152:1072–1080.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Resnicow K, Jackson A, Braithwaite R, et al. Healthy Body/Healthy Spirit: Design and evaluation of a church-based nutrition and physical activity intervention using motivational interviewing. Health Educ Res 2002; 17(2):562–573.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Cohen J. A power primer. Psychol Bull 1992;112(1): 155–159.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Barlow SE, Dietz WH. Obesity evaluation and treatment: expert committee recommendations. Pediatrics 1998;102(3):E29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. NIH-NHLBI and the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. The Practical Guide: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: NIH, Pub Number 00-4084; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Epstein L, Myers M, Raynor H, et al. Treatment of pediatric obesity. Pediatrics 1998; 101(3): 554–570.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

    Ken R. Resnicow PhD, MHS

  2. Behavioral Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

    Abdul Shaikh PhD

Authors
  1. Ken R. Resnicow PhD, MHS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdul Shaikh PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

    Robert F. Kushner MD

  2. Division of Endocrinology, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO

    Daniel H. Bessesen MD

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Resnicow, K.R., Shaikh, A. (2007). Motivational Interviewing in Medical Settings. In: Kushner, R.F., Bessesen, D.H. (eds) Treatment of the Obese Patient. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-400-1_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-400-1_17

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-735-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-400-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation