title: A synthesis of selected national Australian guidelines on the general practice management of adult patients who are overweight or obese.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A general practitioner's (GP's) daily workload includes an ever-increasing number of patients who are overweight and obese. A number of Australian guidelines are aimed at assisting GPs who are managing this group of adult patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article is to synthesise selected national Australian guidelines for GPs in the management of adults who are overweight or obese.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant national guidelines were chosen and reviewed by three GPs. The recommendations were amalgamated and any discrepancies were discussed within the research team.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We presented a synthesis of the guidelines under headings that will assist GPs in a structured approach to managing patients who are overweight and obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This synthesis forms the basis for developing a practical toolkit to assist GPs in managing adult patients who are overweight and obese.
authors.affiliation: FRACGP, BMed, MPH, MForensMed, is lecturer, Academic Unit of General Practice, Australian National University Medical School, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sturgiss
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kathage
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Res
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic