Crafting Primary Care Conversations Beyond BMI

Episode Summary

How can primary care providers move beyond BMI, use body composition meaningfully, and still have compassionate nutrition conversations in limited visit time?

In this episode of In the Know with Nina, Dr. Nina Crowley is joined by Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RD—a dual-credentialed physician assistant and registered dietitian who practices in pediatric primary care and hosts the Exam Room Nutrition podcast. Together they explore why BMI remains the default despite its limitations, how to introduce body composition as a practical, scalable tool, and how to navigate real-world barriers like time, confidence, and stigma.

They also dig into motivational interviewing, the difference between education and counseling, and how referral networks with dietitians can transform outcomes—using simple frameworks like ask–offer–ask to make conversations effective and empathetic.

This episode is a practical guide for primary care teams seeking realistic, patient-centered approaches beyond BMI.

Key Takeaways

• Why BMI persists—and what it misses compared with body composition.

• Body composition delivers richer, actionable insights for care planning.

• Time, confidence, and stigma are the biggest barriers in clinic.

• Use the ask–offer–ask framework to guide efficient, compassionate conversations.

• Education ≠ counseling: team-based care with dietitians drives behavior change.

About Colleen Sloan

Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RD, is a physician assistant and registered dietitian working in pediatric outpatient care in Florida. She hosts the Exam Room Nutrition podcast and created the Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course to equip clinicians and dietitians with practical tools for obesity management, nutrition counseling, and body composition–driven care.

Connect with Colleen Sloan

• Website: https://www.examroomnutrition.com/

• Podcast: Exam Room Nutrition

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/examroomnutrition/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/examroomnutrition/

• Email: examroomnutrition@gmail.com