title: Treatment for overweight and obesity in adult populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is a major public health issue. This review updates the evidence on the effectiveness of behavioural and pharmacologic treatments for overweight and obesity in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We updated the search conducted in a previous review. Randomized trials of primary-care-relevant behavioural (diet, exercise and lifestyle) and pharmacologic (orlistat and metformin) with or without behavioural treatments in overweight and obese adults were included if 12-month, postbaseline data were provided for weight outcomes. Studies reporting harms were included regardless of design. Data were extracted and pooled wherever possible for 5 weight outcomes, 6 secondary health outcomes and 4 adverse events categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 68 studies, most consisted of short-term (≤ 12 mo) treatments using diet (n = 8), exercise (n = 4), diet and exercise (n = 10), lifestyle (n = 19), orlistat (n = 25) or metformin (n = 4). Compared with the control groups, intervention participants had a greater weight loss of -3.02 kg (95% confidence interval [CI] -3.52 to -2.52), a greater reduction in waist circumference of -2.78 cm (95% CI -3.34 to -2.22) and a greater reduction in body mass index of -1.11 kg/m(2) (95% CI -1.39 to -0.84). The relative risk for loss of ≥ 5% body weight was 1.77 (95% CI 1.58-1.99, [number needed to treat 5, 95% CI 4-7]), and the relative risk for loss of ≥ 10% body weight was 1.91 (95% CI 1.69-2.16, [number needed to treat 9, 95% CI 7-12]). Incidence of type 2 diabetes was lower among pre-diabetic intervention participants (relative risk 0.62 [95% CI 0.50-0.77], number needed to treat 17 [95% CI 13-29]). With prevalence rates for type 2 diabetes on the rise, weight loss coupled with a reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes could potentially have a significant benefit on population health and a possible reduction in need for drug treatments for glycemic control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is moderate quality evidence that behavioural and pharmacologic plus behvioural, treatments for overweight and obesity in adults lead to clinically important reductions in weight and incidence of type 2 diabetes in pre-diabetic populations.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PROSPERO no. CRD42012002753.
authors.affiliation: McMaster Evidence Review and Synthesis Centre, McMaster University Hamilton, Ont.
authors.forename: Leslea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peirson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. ; St. Joseph's HealthCare, Hamilton, Ont.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Douketis
authors.affiliation: McMaster Evidence Review and Synthesis Centre, McMaster University Hamilton, Ont.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciliska
authors.affiliation: McMaster Evidence Review and Synthesis Centre, McMaster University Hamilton, Ont.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick-Lewis
authors.affiliation: McMaster Evidence Review and Synthesis Centre, McMaster University Hamilton, Ont.
authors.forename: Muhammad Usman
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: McMaster Evidence Review and Synthesis Centre, McMaster University Hamilton, Ont.
authors.forename: Parminder
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raina