[Prospective study of the development of excess weight in a group of chronic ambulatory patients].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of Health Education on excess weight.


METHODS
Observational crossover study in order to analyse the prevalence of excess weight. Prospective study with intervention. SITE. At the Primary Care level (the Vilanova del Camí Health Centre) in a semi-urban district with 9,173 inhabitants.


METHODS
Patients registered with the chronically ill nursing office in one of three General Medical units. Six patients seen at home and 4 how did not attend personally were not counted. The remaining numbered 87, out of which 17 did not present excess weight (the latter being defined as when there is a ratio of body mass (RBM) superior to 25).


METHODS
For the purpose of the intervention carried out to reduce weight, the 70 obese patients were divided into three groups: no intervention (N), hygienic/dietetic measures (M), and hypocaloric diet (D).


RESULTS
The variation of weight and RBM achieved over six months was studied. The parameters for matching data were compared. In group N, a light weight increase of no statistical significance was found. In group M, a highly significant reduction of weight and RBM was observed (p less than 0.001). In group D, weight reduction presented a strong correlation (p less than 0.01) and the reduction in RBM was highly significant (p less than 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
An abstentionist attitude to the problem of excess weight cannot be justified, seeing that notable results can be obtained using hygienic/dietetic measures alone.
Oliva Segura
M
M
Centro de Atención Primaria Vilanova del Camí, Barcelona.
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010045:Outpatients; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies
Estudio prospectivo de la evolución del sobrepeso en un grupo de pacientes crónicos ambulatorios.