title: Intensive Lifestyle Intervention for Obesity: Principles, Practices, and Results.
abstract: Using the Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults as a framework, this article reviews intensive lifestyle interventions for weight loss. The Guidelines recommend a minimum of 6 months of high-intensity, comprehensive lifestyle intervention, consisting of a reduced-calorie diet, increased physical activity, and behavior therapy. Persons with obesity typically lose approximately 8 kg (approximately 8% of initial weight) with this approach, accompanied by improvements in health and quality of life. To prevent weight regain, the Guidelines recommend a 1-year weight loss maintenance program that includes at least monthly counseling with a trained interventionist. Lifestyle interventions usually are delivered in-person; however, treatment increasingly is being disseminated through community- and commercial-based programs, as well as delivered by telephone, Internet, and smartphone platforms. These latter modalities expand treatment reach but usually produce smaller weight losses than in-person interventions. The review concludes with an examination of challenges in weight management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: wadden@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Wadden
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D000068959:Body Weight Maintenance; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D004032:Diet; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D013689:Telephone; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs
keywords: Behavioral Treatment; Lifestyle Intervention; Obesity; Weight Loss