WPSI Seeks Comments on Obesity Prevention Recommendation

WPSI has chosen to proceed to the development stage and is now actively seeking comments on a draft recommendation on the subject. Family physicians, residents and medical students are invited to give feedback, along with members of the general public.

Per the WPSI website, the purpose of making draft recommendations available for public review and comment is to ensure clarity, transparency and quality. While anyone who visits the site may comment on any listed WPSI document, it should be noted that the recommendations are written for use by primary care clinicians, researchers and other health care professionals.

Among other things, the draft recommendation on obesity prevention recommends counseling women ages 40 to 60 whose BMI is normal or overweight to maintain their weight or limit weight gain. Clinicians are advised to individualize counseling for patients based on contributing factors, and to be sensitive to issues such as weight stigma, cultural influences on body image and access to safe spaces for physical activity.

To date, WPSI has published 12 recommendations on a variety of women's health topics. Recently, the initiative published an updated version of its Well-Woman Chart and an accompanying series of clinical summary tables.

It should also be noted that the AAFP has consistently advocated on women's health issues and has crafted a variety of policies and educational resources for members on the topic.

The public comment period for WPSI's draft recommendation on preventing obesity in midlife women ends on Nov. 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Once the comment period has ended and the draft recommendation is removed from the public comment page, WPSI will begin considering comments and finalizing the recommendation.

WPSI was launched by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in March 2016. Its committees are overseen by an advisory panel comprised of representatives from the AAFP, ACOG, the American College of Physicians and the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, as well as three members of the Institute of Medicine's 2011 Committee on Preventive Services for Women.