What strategies are available to help patients achieve meaningful weight loss?
Available strategies for helping patients achieve meaningful weight loss include intensive behavioral counseling, drugs to reduce appetite, and bariatric surgery. Of these, intensive behavioral counseling is recommended as the first option in evidence-based guidelines because of its greater effectiveness and safety compared with pharmacotherapy and greater safety and lower cost compared with bariatric surgery. Components of multicomponent behavioral programs typically include goal setting, feedback, problem solving, coaching for physical activity, and frequent individual or group meetings (at least 12 sessions in the first year). Examples include the Diabetes and Counterweight Program.