title: The Saudi clinical practice guideline for the management of overweight and obesity in adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assist healthcare providers in evidence-based clinical decision-making for the management of overweight and obese adults in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assembled an expert Saudi panel to produce this clinical practice guideline in 2015. In collaboration with the methodological working group from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, which describes both the strength of recommendation and the quality of evidence
  
  
  RESULTS
  After identifying 11 questions, corresponding recommendations were agreed upon as guidance for the management of overweight and obese adults. These included strong recommendations in support of lifestyle interventions rather than usual care alone, individualized counseling interventions rather than generic educational pamphlets, physical activity rather than no physical activity, and physical activity in addition to diet rather than diet alone. Metformin and orlistat were suggested as conditional recommendations for the management of overweight and obesity in adults. Bariatric surgery was recommended, conditionally, for the management of obese adults (body mass index of ≥40 or ≥35 kg/m2 with comorbidities).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current guideline includes recommendation for the non-pharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical management of overweight and obese adults. In addition, the panel recommends conducting research priorities regarding lifestyle interventions and economic analysis of drug therapy within the Saudi context, as well as long term benefits and harms of bariatric surgery.
authors.affiliation: Obesity Research Center,College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail. aalfadda@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Assim A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alfadda
authors.forename: Madhawi M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Al-Dhwayan
authors.forename: Abdulhameed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alharbi
authors.forename: Basema K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Al Khudhair
authors.forename: Omar M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Al Nozha
authors.forename: Nawal M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Qahtani
authors.forename: Saad H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Alzahrani
authors.forename: Wedad M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Bardisi
authors.forename: Reem M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sallam
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Jan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brożek
authors.forename: Holger J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schünemann
authors.forename: Ainsley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012529:Saudi Arabia