title: [Obesity-- current significance of nutritional therapy].
abstract: Obesity is defined as pathologic increase of body fat leading to an increased health risk. Obesity therapy should be initiated if the body mass index is higher than 30 kg/m2 or if consecutive diseases occur. In cases in which a weight reduction of at least 20% is warranted by conservative therapy strategies, only very low calorie diet can achieve it. For practical reasons, a three-month formula diet can achieve the goal best, as shown in clinical trials, provided that the diet is administered within a so-called "basic therapy program" over 6-12 month that changes life-style. The basic therapy program covers apart from the dietetic approach behavior therapy, exercise therapy, and medical care. The initial formula diet represents an initial aid, similar to anti-obesity drugs or the gastric banding, although comparative studies on the three procedures are lacking.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Ernährungsmedizin, Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart. bischoff.stephan@uni-hohenheim.de
authors.forename: Stephan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bischoff
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000379:methods*; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss