New psycho-pedagogic approach to obesity treatment: a 5-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the body weight evolution in obese patients admitted for a 2-week residential program and followed-up on ambulatory basis, as well as to evaluate factors having impact on weight evolution after 5 years.


METHODS
Thirty-nine obese patients participated in a 2-week structured interdisciplinary weight loss program, involving individual and group therapies, and including physical activity, nutritional education and standard cognitive-behavioral techniques. Patients were then followed-up regularly by their general practitioners for 5 years.


RESULTS
After 5 years, 33 subjects completed the study. Seventy percent of the patients lost weight or maintained their weight loss. Total score for dietary structure, eating behavior disorders, dietary surveillance and weight management strategies, as evaluated by a validated questionnaire, was significantly lower in the weight loss group (22.4+/-4.3) as compared to maintenance group (24.4+/-6.1, p<0.05) and regain group (29.7+/-4.0, p<0.01). Patients who lost weight presented a more important follow-up on long-term weight management (p<0.05), a better dietary results (p<0.01) as well as more physical activity (p<0.05) that the regain group.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated that an initial multidimensional and multidisciplinary in-hospital program with a consecutive long-term ambulatory follow-up may lead to a significant weight loss (55%) and/or weight maintenance (15%).


CONCLUSIONS
A multidisciplinary and well-designed initial treatment and long-term follow-up program is mandatory for obesity management.
Buclin-Thiébaud
Sévrine
S
Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases, WHO Collaborating Centre, Department of Community Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pataky
Zoltan
Z
Bruchez
Vanessa
V
Golay
Alain
A
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss