Communication about weight-related issues with adult patients with obesity in general practice: A scoping review.

Background: Primary care providers see patients with obesity in general practice every day but may be challenged regarding communication about obesity. The research question of this study is: how do general practitioners and general practice staff and adult patients with obesity communicate about weight-related issues? Methods: A scoping review approach was used, searching PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL for peer-reviewed studies - of both quantitative and/or qualitative study designs, and published between 2001 and 2021. Results: Twenty articles were included. The weight-related issues discussed were by far physical issues, and only one study mentioned psychosocial issues. Most of the included studies contained information on who initiates the communication, how the weight-related issues are addressed and handled, and also obstacles and challenges in relation to the communication. The studies lacked information of when the weight-related issues are addressed and differences in views and experiences when discussing weight-related issues in general practice. Conclusion: Studies with the main focus communication about obesity and overall health in general practice are needed. Findings also indicate, that non-stigmatizing communication tools and guidelines are needed on this area to promote these types of conservations.

Uric acid and sCD163 as biomarkers for metabolic dysfunction and MAFLD in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of childhood obesity increases globally, and noninvasive methods are needed to identify metabolic dysfunction and obesity-related complications such as pediatric metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). We investigated whether uric acid (UA) and the macrophage marker soluble form of cysteine scavenger receptor CD163 (sCD163) can be used as biomarkers for deteriorated metabolism or pediatric MAFLD in children with overweight or obesity. METHODS: Cross-sectional clinical and biochemical data from 94 children with overweight or obesity was included. Surrogate liver markers were calculated, and correlations were investigated using Pearson's or Spearman's correlation test. RESULTS: UA and sCD163 correlated with BMI standard deviation score (r=0.23, p<0.05; r=0.33, p<0.01) and body fat (r=0.24, p<0.05; r=0.27, p=0.01). UA correlated with triglycerides (ρ=0.21, p<0.05), fat free mass (r=0.33, p<0.01), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (r=0.39, p<0.01). sCD163 correlated with the pediatric NAFLD fibrosis score (r=0.28, p<0.01) and alanine aminotransferase (r=0.28, p<0.01). No correlation was found between UA and pediatric MAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: UA and sCD163 was identified as markers of a deranged metabolic profile, thus acting as easily accessible biomarkers for obesity and an obesity-related deranged metabolism. Furthermore, increasing levels of sCD163 could be a useful biomarker of pediatric MAFLD. Future prospective studies are warranted.