Obesity & Weight Management Program
Obesity and overweight have reached near-epidemic
proportions in the United States. There is a need to further investigate
intervention strategies designed to help individuals manage their weight
by improving diet and exercise behaviors. We designed a multidisciplinary
weight management program that included healthy eating, regular exercise,
and behavioral changes based on the Transtheoretical Model. The program
focused on a healthy lifestyle rather than weight loss.
Weight Management Study Method
Overweight and obese adults (n = 144; BMI = 32.5) participated in a 6-month
clinic-based weight management program. The first 3 months of the program
were intense (twice weekly for 2 hours) followed by 3 months of reduced
clinical contact. Assessments completed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months
included weight, body composition, BMI, total cholesterol and 24-hour
diet recalls. VO(2max) was assessed at baseline and at 3 months.
Weight Management Study Results
Subjects experienced significant decreases in weight, percentage body
fat, BMI, total cholesterol, LDL-C, total caloric intake, and the percentage
of energy intake from dietary fat as well as a significant increase in
VO(2max) at 3 months. Changes were maintained at 6 months, with weight,
total cholesterol, and LDL-C demonstrating further improvement.
Weight Management Study Conclusions
A clinic-based weight management program that focuses on lifestyle is
successful at promoting changes in exercise and dietary behaviors. These
changes appear to promote good health, as evidenced by moderate weight
loss, increased cardiorespiratory fitness, and improved lipid profiles.
Source: Riebe D, Greene GW, Ruggiero L,
Stillwell KM, Blissmer B, Nigg CR, Caldwell M. University of Rhode Island,
Kingston, USA. 2003
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