Management of overweight and obesity in adults: behavioral intervention for long-term weight loss and maintenance.
BACKGROUND
The World Health Organization has identified obesity as a global epidemic. While weight loss is a considerable challenge, long-term maintenance of weight loss is an even greater problem.


OBJECTIVE
This review of the assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults covers factors contributing to overweight and obesity, components of weight-loss management, and interventions and effects of behavioral treatment for long-term weight loss and maintenance.


METHODS
A thorough search of the medical and nursing literature recorded in the MEDLINE database from 1995 to 2003 was conducted by using the keywords "overweight", "obesity", and "behavioral therapy".


RESULTS
Obesity is a complex, multifaceted condition in which excessive body fat places a person at risk of multiple health problems. Excessive body fat results from energy intake that exceeds energy expenditure.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing evidence suggests that obesity is not simply a problem of will power or self-control but a complex disorder involving appetite regulation and energy metabolism that is associated with a variety of comorbid conditions. Effective strategies of weight loss require management strategies in a combined approach of dietary therapy and physical activity by using behavioral interventions.
Lang
Astrid
A
University of Vienna (Department Nursing Science), Hasnerstrasse 57/2/22, 1160 Wien, Austria. astrid.lang@hausderbarmherzigkeit.at
Froelicher
Erika Sivarajan
ES
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000886:Anthropometry; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003663:Decision Trees; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss