Behavior Modification in the Treatment of Obesity (original) (raw)

Behavioral therapy for management of obesity

Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2012

Obesity is a major public health problem and is implicated in the rising prevalence of cardiac disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in India. Management of an obese patient includes therapeutic lifestyle changes of increasing physical activity and reducing calorie intake. This combination can result in about a 10% loss of initial body weight. To reinforce this intervention, behavioral therapy needs to be incorporated into the overall intervention under the belief that obesity is a result of maladaptive eating behaviors and exercise patterns. This review explains the principles of behavioral therapy, including the underlying assumptions and characteristics. The common components of behavioral therapy for obesity are explained. The different settings where behavioral therapy can be administered are mentioned. The review focuses on how behavioral therapy can be incorporated in the routine clinical management of obesity by primary and secondary care physicians who encounter obese patients.

Behavioral Modification for the Management of Obesity

Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, 2016

This article provides behavioral strategies for working with obese patients and families within a primary care context. A multi-factorial model for the etiology of obesity from which to adopt treatment strategies is provided. Optimal views to set up effective patient encounters and specific recommendations to motivate and support patients are discussed. Multi-component programs include a combination of nutritional, physical activity, and cognitive behavioral approaches to target overweight/obesity. The focus is on behavioral approaches and practical applications such as motivational interviewing techniques are included.

Outcome and methodological considerations in behavioral treatment of obesity

Behavior Therapy, 1974

Studies determining the efficacy of behavioral treatment of obesity are divided into self and experimenter managed categories and reviewed with respect to outcome and adequacy of design. Methodological factors are considered, conclusions with regard to outcome and suggestions for research are offered.

Behavioral intervention for the treatment of obesity: Strategies and effectiveness data

2007

The obesity epidemic has been recognized in the professional and lay public as a major health problem in the United States and many other cultures. The gastroenterology literature has recently paid attention to this problem, focusing primarily on either physiological mechanisms of obesity or surgical remedies for obesity. However, behavioral strategies developed from social learning theory have been the most thoroughly tested interventions for the treatment of obesity, as well as the interventions shown most clearly to have clinical benefit. Nevertheless, descriptions of behavioral techniques and their theoretical underpinnings have been minimal in the gastroenterology literature. Here, a brief history and presentation of the theoretical underpinnings of behavioral strategies for obesity management is summarized, emphasizing some of the key components, treatment effectiveness data, and needed areas for further research. Overall, it is concluded that behavior therapy is both the most studied and most effective therapy for treating obesity at present. Gastroenterologists are encouraged to use it as a first line of treatment for most obese patients, and as a key component of therapies that involve pharmacologic and surgical components.

Behavioral techniques in the treatment of obesity: A comparative analysis

Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1973

The relative efficacy of the major techniques typically used in behavioral treatment programs for weight reduction was investigated using obese adult volunteers. Study 1 compared the effects of self-monitoring, self-control procedures, monetary rewards, aversive imagery and relaxation training. These procedures resulted in significantly greater weight reduction than either a no treatment group or subjects who graphed and recorded daily weight. Self-monitoring of daily caloric intake was as effective as the other methods, both singly and combined, over a 4 week treatment period. Study 2 compared the long-term effects of selfmonitoring vs the full complement of behavioral techniques used in Study 1. The full behavior management program was significantly more effective, both during the treatment period and at 3 and 12 week follow-ups, although self-monitoring again produced substantial weight loss.

Psychological interventions for overweight or obesity

Reviews, 1996

Background Overweight and obesity are global health problems which are increasing throughout the industrialised world. If left unchecked, they will continue to contribute to the ever increasing non communicable disease burden. Objectives To assess the effects of psychological interventions for overweight or obesity as a means of achieving sustained weight loss. Search methods Studies were obtained from searches of multiple electronic bibliographic databases. Selection criteria Trials were included if the fulfilled the following criteria: 1) they were randomised controlled clinical trials of a psychological intervention versus a comparison intervention, 2) one of the outcome measures of the study was weight change measured by any method, 3) participants were followed for at least three months, 4) the study participants were adults (18 years or older) who were overweight or obese (BMI > 25 kg/m 2) at baseline. Data collection and analysis Two people independently applied the inclusion criteria to the studies identified and assessed study quality. Disagreement was resolved by discussion or by intervention of a third party. Meta-analyses were performed using a fixed effect model. Main results A total of 36 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Overall, 3495 participants were evaluated. The majority of studies assessed behavioural and cognitive-behavioural weight reduction strategies. Cognitive therapy, psychotherapy, relaxation therapy and hypnotherapy were assessed in a small number of studies. Behaviour therapy was found to result in significantly greater weight reductions than placebo when assessed as a stand-alone weight loss strategy (WMD-2.5 kg; 95% CI-1.7 to-3.3). When behaviour therapy was combined with a diet / exercise approach and compared with diet / exercise alone, the combined intervention resulted in a greater weight reduction. Studies were heterogeneous however the majority of studies favoured combining behaviour therapy with dietary and exercise interventions to improve weight loss. Increasing the intensity of the behavioural intervention significantly increased 8 Psychological interventions for overweight or obesity (Review)

Behavioral Interventions for Obesity

2005

Because of the increased risk of comorbid conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and osteoarthritis, and the high health care costs associated with obesity, researchers and clinicians continually search for low-cost and effective treatments for weight loss and weight maintenance. In this article we provide an overview of the principles of behavior modification as applied to the treatment of obesity, examine the benefits of augmenting behavioral interventions with pharmacotherapy, and review the use of less-traditional applications of behavior modification in the treatment of obesity, specifically Internet interventions, meal replacements, and telephone interventions. Based on our review, we conclude that these less-traditional approaches can be used effectively to apply the principles of behavior modification, specifically stimulus control and self-monitoring, to obese patients. Future directions for research are outlined, which include examining the use of nontraditional behavioral interventions with children and the development of culturally sensitive interventions for racial and ethnic minority populations.

Group therapy in obesity control: results of our 8-year experience

Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2012

We have analysed group therapy efficacy in weight loss of obese outpatients, non responders to previous hypocaloric treatments. The results we have obtained during the last 8 years have been compared to those reported in literature, to our previous observations and to results obtained in a group of obese outpatients in traditional diet-therapy. The mean weight loss in patients followed for 6 months with group therapy was 5.5% of the initial weight (IW); 48.5% of them lost more than 5% and 13% lost more than 10% of IW. The results obtained in a traditional treated group were a little better: mean weight loss was-6.6%, 61% lost more than 5% and 22% more than 10% of IW. So, in our opinion, group therapy can be usefully applied only in selected patients (i.e. older in age/nonresponders to traditional treatments), where it might have a possible role as a more cost-effective treatment.