Obesity
Treatment
The mainstay of treatment for obesity is an energy-limited diet and increased exercise. In studies, diet and exercise programs have consistently produced an average weight loss of approximately 8% of total body mass (excluding study drop-outs). While not all dieters will be satisfied with this outcome, studies have shown that a loss of as little as 5% of body mass can create large health benefits. A more intractable therapeutic problem appears to be weight loss maintenance. Of dieters who manage to lose 10% or more of their body mass in studies, 80-95% will regain that weight within two to five years, supporting the finding that the body has various mechanisms that maintain weight at a certain set point.Template:Fact
In a clinical practice guideline by the American College of Physicians, the following five recommendations are made:[1]
- People with a BMI of over 30 should be counseled on diet, exercise and other relevant behavioral interventions, and set a realistic goal for weight loss.
- If these goals are not achieved, pharmacotherapy can be offered. The patient needs to be informed of the possibility of side-effects and the unavailability of long-term safety and efficacy data.
- Drug therapy may consist of sibutramine, orlistat, phentermine, diethylpropion, fluoxetine, and bupropion. For more severe cases of obesity, stronger drugs such as amphetamine and methamphetamine may be used on a selective basis. Evidence is not sufficient to recommend sertraline, topiramate, or zonisamide.
- In patients with BMI > 40 who fail to achieve their weight loss goals (with or without medication) and who develop obesity-related complications, referral for bariatric surgery may be indicated. The patient needs to be aware of the potential complications.
- Those requiring bariatric surgery should be referred to high-volume referral centers, as the evidence suggests that surgeons who frequently perform these procedures have fewer complications.
A clinical practice guideline by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine behavioral counseling to promote a healthy diet in unselected patients in primary care settings, but that intensive behavioral dietary counseling is recommended in those with hyperlipidemia and other known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease. Intensive counseling can be delivered by primary care clinicians or by referral to other specialists, such as nutritionists or dietitians.[2][3]
Counseling
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials concluded that "compared with usual care, dietary counseling interventions produce modest weight losses that diminish over time."[4]
Diets
Various dietary approaches have been proposed, some of which have been compared by randomized controlled trials:
- A comparison of Dr Atkins' diet, Slim-Fast plan, Weight Watchers "pure points programme", and Rosemary Conley's found no significant differences.[5]
- A comparison of Atkins diet, Zone diet, Weight Watchers, and Ornish diet noted:[6]
- "all 4 diets resulted in modest statistically significant weight loss at 1 year, with no statistically significant differences between diets"
- "The higher discontinuation rates for the Atkins and Ornish diet groups suggest many individuals found these diets to be too extreme"
Low carbohydrate versus low fat
Many studies have focused on diets that reduce calories via a low-carbohydrate (Atkins diet, Zone diet) diet versus a low-fat diet (LEARN diet, Ornish diet). The Nurses' Health Study, an observational cohort study, found that low carbohydrate diets based on vegetable sources of fat and protein are associated with less coronary heart disease.[7]
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the international Cochrane Collaboration in 2002 concluded[8] that fat-restricted diets are no better than calorie restricted diets in achieving long term weight loss in overweight or obese people.
A more recent meta-analysis that included randomized controlled trials published after the Cochrane review[9][10][6] found that "low-carbohydrate, non-energy-restricted diets appear to be at least as effective as low-fat, energy-restricted diets in inducing weight loss for up to 1 year. However, potential favorable changes in triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values should be weighed against potential unfavorable changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values when low-carbohydrate diets to induce weight loss are considered."[11]
The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial[12] found that a diet of total fat to 20% of energy and increasing consumption of vegetables and fruit to at least 5 servings daily and grains to at least 6 servings daily:
- no reduction in cardiovascular disease[13]
- an insignificant reduction in invasive breast cancer[14]
- no reductions in colorectal cancer[15]
Additional recent randomized controlled trials have found that:
- A comparison of Atkins, Zone diet, Ornish diet, and LEARN diet in premenopausal women found the greatest benefit from the Atkins diet.[16]
- The choice of diet for a specific person may be influenced by measuring the invididual's insulin secretion:
- In young adults "Reducing glycemic [carbohydrate] load may be especially important to achieve weight loss among individuals with high insulin secretion."[17] This is consistent with prior studies of diabetic patients in which low carbohydrate diets were more beneficial.[18][19]
Low glycemic index
"The glycaemic index factor is a ranking of foods based on their overall effect on blood sugar levels. Low glycaemic index foods, such as lentils, provide a slower more consistent source of glucose to the bloodstream, thereby stimulating less insulin release than high glycaemic index foods, such as white bread."[20][21]
The glycemic load is "the mathematical product of the glycemic index and the carbohydrate amount".[22]
In a randomized controlled trial that compared four diets that varied in carbohydrate amount and glycemic index found complicated results[23]:
- Diet 1 and 2 were high carbohydrate (55% of total energy intake)
- Diet 1 was high-glycemic index
- Diet 2 was low-glycemic index
- Diet 3 and 4 were high protein (25% of total energy intake)
- Diet 3 was high-glycemic index
- Diet 4 was low-glycemic index
Diets 2 and 3 lost the most weight and fat mass; however, low density lipoprotein fell in Diet 2 and rose in Diet 3. Thus the authors concluded that the high-carbohydrate, low-glycemic index diet was the most favorable.
A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that low glycemic index or low glycemic load diets led to more weight loss and better lipid profiles. However, the Cochrane Collaboration grouped low glycemic index and low glycemic load diets together and did not try to separate the effects of the load versus the index.[20]
Exercise
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the international Cochrane Collaboration found that "exercise combined with diet resulted in a greater weight reduction than diet alone".[24]
Drugs
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by the international Cochrane Collaboration concluded that in diabetic patients found:[25]
- "Fluoxetine, orlistat, and sibutramine can achieve statistically significant weight loss over 12 to 57 weeks. The magnitude of weight loss is modest, however, and the long-term health benefits remain unclear. The safety of sibutramine is uncertain. There is a paucity of data on other drugs for weight loss or control in persons with type 2 diabetes."
Medication most commonly prescribed for diet/exercise-resistant obesity is orlistat (Xenical, which reduces intestinal fat absorption by inhibiting pancreatic lipase) and sibutramine (Reductil, Meridia, an anorectic). In the presence of diabetes mellitus, there is evidence that the anti-diabetic drug metformin (Glucophage) can assist in weight loss—rather than sulfonylurea derivatives and insulin, which often lead to further weight gain. The thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) can cause slight weight gain, but decrease the "pathologic" form of abdominal fat, and are therefore often used in obese diabetics.
Bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery (or "weight loss surgery") is the use of surgical interventions in the treatment of obesity. As every surgical intervention may lead to complications, it is regarded as a last resort when dietary modification and pharmacological treatment have proven to be unsuccessful.
Types of surgery
Weight loss surgery relies on various principles. Band surgery is reversible, while bowel shortening operations are not. Some procedures can be performed laparoscopically.
- Predominantly restrictive procedures. The most common approaches are reducing the volume of the stomach, producing an earlier sense of satiation (e.g. by adjustable gastric banding and vertical banded gastroplasty).
- Predominantly malabsorptive procedures Others procedures also reduce the length of bowel that food will be in contact with, directly reducing absorption (gastric bypass surgery).
Complications
Complications from weight loss surgery are frequent.[26]
Effectiveness of surgery
Weight loss
In general, the malabsorptive procedures lead to more weight loss than the restrictive procedures. A meta-analysis by the American College of Physicians reports the following weight loss at 36 months:[27]
- Biliopancreatic diversion - 53 kg
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) - 41 kg
- Open - 42 kg
- Laparoscopic - 38 kg
- Adjustable gastric banding - 35 kg
- Vertical banded gastroplasty - 32 kg
Mortality
Two studies report decrease in mortality from bariatric surgery.[28][29] In the Swedish randomized controlled trial, patients with a body mass index of 34 or more for men and 38 or more for women underwent various types of bariatric surgery and were followed for a mean of 11 years. Surgery patients had 5.0% mortality while control patients had 6.3% mortality. This means 75 patients must be treated to avoid one death after 11 years (number needed to treat is 77).[28] In a Utah retrospective cohort study that followed patients for a mean of 7 years after various types of gastric bypass, surgery patients had 0.4% mortality while control patients had 0.6% mortality.[29]
Prevention
New York City has proposed that chain restaurants display calorie information on their menus or menu boards.[30]
References
- ↑ Snow V, Barry P, Fitterman N, Qaseem A, Weiss K (2005). "Pharmacologic and surgical management of obesity in primary care: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians". Ann Intern Med 142 (7): 525-31. PMID 15809464. Fulltext.
- ↑ Behavioral counseling in primary care to promote a healthy diet: recommendations and rationale.. Retrieved on 2007-05-22.
- ↑ Pignone MP, Ammerman A, Fernandez L, et al (2003). "Counseling to promote a healthy diet in adults: a summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force". American journal of preventive medicine 24 (1): 75-92. PMID 12554027. [e]
- ↑ Dansinger ML, Tatsioni A, Wong JB, Chung M, Balk EM (2007). "Meta-analysis: the effect of dietary counseling for weight loss". Ann. Intern. Med. 147 (1): 41-50. PMID 17606960. [e]
- ↑ Truby H, Baic S, deLooy A, et al (2006). "Randomised controlled trial of four commercial weight loss programmes in the UK: initial findings from the BBC "diet trials"". BMJ 332 (7553): 1309-14. DOI:10.1136/bmj.38833.411204.80. PMID 16720619. Research Blogging.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dansinger ML, Gleason JA, Griffith JL, Selker HP, Schaefer EJ (2005). "Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone diets for weight loss and heart disease risk reduction: a randomized trial". JAMA 293 (1): 43-53. DOI:10.1001/jama.293.1.43. PMID 15632335. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Halton TL, Willett WC, Liu S, et al (2006). "Low-carbohydrate-diet score and the risk of coronary heart disease in women". N. Engl. J. Med. 355 (19): 1991-2002. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa055317. PMID 17093250. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Pirozzo S, Summerbell C, Cameron C, Glasziou P (2002). "Advice on low-fat diets for obesity". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (2): CD003640. PMID 12076496. [e]
- ↑ Samaha FF, Iqbal N, Seshadri P, et al (2003). "A low-carbohydrate as compared with a low-fat diet in severe obesity". N. Engl. J. Med. 348 (21): 2074–81. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa022637. PMID 12761364. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Foster GD, Wyatt HR, Hill JO, et al (2003). "A randomized trial of a low-carbohydrate diet for obesity". N. Engl. J. Med. 348 (21): 2082–90. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa022207. PMID 12761365. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Nordmann AJ, Nordmann A, Briel M, et al (2006). "Effects of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". Arch. Intern. Med. 166 (3): 285-93. DOI:10.1001/archinte.166.3.285. PMID 16476868. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Howard BV, Manson JE, Stefanick ML, et al (2006). "Low-fat dietary pattern and weight change over 7 years: the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial". JAMA 295 (1): 39-49. DOI:10.1001/jama.295.1.39. PMID 16391215. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Howard BV, Van Horn L, Hsia J, et al (2006). "Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial". JAMA 295 (6): 655-66. DOI:10.1001/jama.295.6.655. PMID 16467234. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Prentice RL, Caan B, Chlebowski RT, et al (2006). "Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of invasive breast cancer: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial". JAMA 295 (6): 629-42. DOI:10.1001/jama.295.6.629. PMID 16467232. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Beresford SA, Johnson KC, Ritenbaugh C, et al (2006). "Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of colorectal cancer: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial". JAMA 295 (6): 643-54. DOI:10.1001/jama.295.6.643. PMID 16467233. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Gardner CD, Kiazand A, Alhassan S, et al (2007). "Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN diets for change in weight and related risk factors among overweight premenopausal women: the A TO Z Weight Loss Study: a randomized trial". JAMA 297 (9): 969-77. DOI:10.1001/jama.297.9.969. PMID 17341711. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Ebbeling CB, Leidig MM, Feldman HA, Lovesky MM, Ludwig DS (2007). "Effects of a low-glycemic load vs low-fat diet in obese young adults: a randomized trial". JAMA 297 (19): 2092-102. DOI:10.1001/jama.297.19.2092. PMID 17507345. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Stern L, Iqbal N, Seshadri P, et al (2004). "The effects of low-carbohydrate versus conventional weight loss diets in severely obese adults: one-year follow-up of a randomized trial". Ann. Intern. Med. 140 (10): 778–85. PMID 15148064. [e]
- ↑ Garg A, Bantle JP, Henry RR, et al (1994). "Effects of varying carbohydrate content of diet in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus". JAMA 271 (18): 1421–8. PMID 7848401. [e]
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Thomas D, Elliott E, Baur L (2007). "Low glycaemic index or low glycaemic load diets for overweight and obesity" 3: CD005105. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005105.pub2. PMID 17636786. Research Blogging.
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tag; name "pmid17636786" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Jenkins DJ, Wolever TM, Taylor RH, et al (1981). "Glycemic index of foods: a physiological basis for carbohydrate exchange". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 34 (3): 362-6. PMID 6259925. [e]
- ↑ Brand-Miller JC, Thomas M, Swan V, Ahmad ZI, Petocz P, Colagiuri S (2003). "Physiological validation of the concept of glycemic load in lean young adults". J. Nutr. 133 (9): 2728-32. PMID 12949357. [e]
- ↑ McMillan-Price J, Petocz P, Atkinson F, et al (2006). "Comparison of 4 diets of varying glycemic load on weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction in overweight and obese young adults: a randomized controlled trial". Arch. Intern. Med. 166 (14): 1466-75. DOI:10.1001/archinte.166.14.1466. PMID 16864756. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Shaw K, Gennat H, O'Rourke P, Del Mar C (2006). "Exercise for overweight or obesity". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD003817. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD003817.pub3. PMID 17054187. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Norris SL, Zhang X, Avenell A, Gregg E, Schmid CH, Lau J (2005). "Pharmacotherapy for weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (1): CD004096. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD004096.pub2. PMID 15674929. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Encinosa WE, Bernard DM, Chen CC, Steiner CA (2006). "Healthcare utilization and outcomes after bariatric surgery". Medical care 44 (8): 706-12. DOI:10.1097/01.mlr.0000220833.89050.ed. PMID 16862031. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Sjöström L, Narbro K, Sjöström CD, et al (2007). "Effects of bariatric surgery on mortality in Swedish obese subjects". N. Engl. J. Med. 357 (8): 741-52. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa066254. PMID 17715408. Research Blogging.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Adams TD, Gress RE, Smith SC, et al (2007). "Long-term mortality after gastric bypass surgery". N. Engl. J. Med. 357 (8): 753-61. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa066603. PMID 17715409. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Rivera R. (2007) “New York City Reintroduces Calorie Rule,” The New York Times, October 25, 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/nyregion/25calories.html (accessed October 26, 2007).