What are the medical therapies for obesity?
- Dietary restriction of calories, while maintaining adequate protein, fluid electrolyte, mineral, and vitamin intake, is the key.
- A sensible weight reduction program targets gradual weight reduction by behavior modification, including dietary and activity changes.
- Numerous fad diets claim success, but key to the weight loss is patient commitment and total lifestyle modification.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 2012 recommendations include screening all adults for obesity. Clinicians should offer or refer patients with a BMI of 30 kg/m 2 or higher to intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions.
Intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions for obese adults include the following components:
- Behavioral management activities, such as setting weight-loss goals
- Improving diet or nutrition and increasing physical activity
- Addressing barriers to change
- Self-monitoring
- Strategizing how to maintain lifestyle changes
For a summary of the evidence systematically reviewed in making this recommendation, the full recommendation statement, and supporting documents, please go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/ (Accessed September 22, 2014).
