Medical management of obesity.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Obesity is associated with elevated morbidity and death rates. The World Health Organization defines obesity as a chronic disease. The percentage of obese persons is increasing worldwide. Many different treatment modalities are available. Long-term success rates are not convincing.

RESEARCH FOCUS:

Overweight and obesity should be treated in an interdisciplinary and multimodal approach. The best results in loosing body weight, especially body fat use very low calorie diets followed by a fat-reduced, carbohydrate-rich diets. Weight-loss drugs should be used only in a weight-loss program including diet and physical activity. Surgical intervention is necessary in a small group of persons refractory to conservative obesity treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

New structured guidelines oriented and quality controlled programs for treatment of obese patients are necessary.

• Authors: J G Wechsler, K Leopold
• Journal: Langenbeck's archives of surgery (Langenbecks Arch Surg) Vol. 388 Issue 6 Pg. 369-74 (Dec 2003) ISSN: 1435-2443 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12827362 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Diet, Reducing
• Energy Intake
• Humans
• Obesity (diet therapy, drug therapy, epidemiology, surgery, therapy)
• Weight Loss