| July 2010 · Vol. 59, No. 07: 378-385 Applied Evidence
Weight loss strategies that really work
With your guidance, sustained weight loss is possible—even for the severely obese. These tips and tools will help.
Kathryn
M.
Kolasa,
PhD, RD, LDNDepartments of Family Medicine and Pediatrics at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
kolasaka@ecu.edu David
N.
Collier,
MD, PhDPediatrics at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC Kathy
Cable,
MLSBrody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
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PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
• Calculate body mass index and diagnose obesity to increase the likelihood that obese patients will take steps to lose weight. B
• Prescribe a low-calorie diet for at least 6 months to help patients achieve a weight loss of at least 5% to 10%; prescribe physical activity for weight loss and weight maintenance. A
• Review the benefits and risks of bariatric surgery with patients who are severely obese, and provide a referral, when appropriate. A
Strength of recommendation (SOR)
A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence
B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series
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Dr. Kolasa reported that she serves on a nutrition advisory committee to Burger King International. Dr. Collier and Ms. Cable reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.
It’s not only obese patients who are resistant to weight loss strategies. Many physicians contribute to the gap between current practice and optimal management of adult obesity, as well. There are a number of reasons for this—a dearth of knowledge, time, and reimbursement among them.1,2
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