Most hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) say obesity is a “big” or “moderate” concern and that they need protocols, educational materials and communication tools to address it, according to a study published in 2014 in the journal Haemophilia. In a telephone survey devised by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Blood Disorders, and members of the Healthy Weight Working Group, 90 HTCs revealed the following:
- 67% routinely calculated body mass index (BMI, a measure of obesity), but only 48% discussed the results with patients
- 7% have a written protocol or guidelines on overweight; 53% said they were needed
- 33% spent 5–15 minutes discussing with overweight or obese patients how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- 26% referred patients to a weight management program
- 51% referred patients to nutritionists outside the facility
Nearly all agreed that achieving a healthy weight was the responsibility of not only the HTC, patients and their families, but also schools and primary care physicians.
Source: Adams E, et al. An inventory of healthy weight practices in federally funded haemophilia treatment centres in the United States. Haemophilia (2014): 1–5.