Applying a Common-Sense Approach to Fighting Obesity

Table 1

Questions that can be used to assess patients’ illness representations and action plans.

Illness domain/action plan	Questions
Identity	Are you concerned about your weight?
	Do you think you weigh too much?
	Have others mentioned your weight?
Cause	What caused you to gain weight?
	Why do you think you are overweight?
Consequences	How do you think your weight is affecting your health?
	How do you think your weight will affect your health over the next few years?
	How do you think your weight is affecting your emotional wellbeing and your relationships with others?
Control/cure	Have you tried anything to lose weight, or keep from gaining more weight?
	How well has it worked?
	What do you think you could do to control your weight?
	What can you do to keep from gaining weight, or to lose weight?
Time line	How long have you felt that your weight has been a problem?
	How long do you think it will take to change your eating/physical activity habits?
	How long do you think it will take for you to lose weight?
Action plan	Can you pick one aspect of your diet or physical activity to work on before we next meet?
	Where and when can that plan fit into your daily schedule?
	What do you need in order to complete that plan?
	How will you know whether the plan worked?