[Rehabilitation in patients with obesity: Approach and role of the rehabilitation physician in management. Data from the survey by the Obesity and Sarcopenia Working Group of the Spanish Society of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine].

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a chronic disease that influences the evolution and functional prognosis of many of the pathologies for which patients are referred to physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) departments. Patients with more complex obesity present different associated comorbidities that require a multidisciplinary approach and adaptations in the material resources of the services of rehabilitation. The objective is to know how rehabilitation doctors address this condition in their healthcare practice.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study using a 20-question survey designed by the Obesity Working Group of the Spanish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SERMEF), which includes both qualitative and quantitative variables.

RESULTS

Of the participants, a high percentage consider obesity as a disease, but 52% consider that obesity determines the functional outcome in these patients. Regarding the level of training in the approach to patients with obesity, 74.1% of those surveyed consider that they do not have the appropriate skills to manage patients with obesity in their usual practice and a high percentage also reports not having the necessary resources for evaluation and treatment. In order to assess body composition 12.2% of the participants used electrical bioimpedance analysis and less than 5% used ultrasound. Another aspect worth highlighting is that 21% of those surveyed report the existence of multidisciplinary units for the management of people with morbid obesity, and in 30% of those units the PMR physician participates in the development of care protocols for patients with bariatric surgery.

CONCLUSION

This first study carried out in Spain on the perception of the impact of obesity and the approach in rehabilitation consultations reveals the lack of specific training and basic tools for the evaluation of this pathology. That is why, from the SERMEF Obesity and Sarcopenia Working Group, we consider increasing knowledge among Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialists as priority objective.