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Treatment of Obesity in Primary Care Practice in the United States: A Systematic Review

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ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES

This review examines the results of randomized controlled trials in which behavioral weight loss interventions, used alone or with pharmacotherapy, were provided in primary care settings.

DATA SOURCES

Literature search of MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, and EMBASE (1950-present). Inclusion criteria for studies were: (1) randomized trial, (2) obesity intervention in US adults, and (3) conducted in primary care or explicitly intended to model a primary care setting.

REVIEW METHODS

Both authors reviewed each study to extract treatment modality, provider, setting, weight change, and attrition. The CONSORT criteria were used to assess study quality. Due to the small number and heterogeneity of studies, results were summarized but not pooled quantitatively.

RESULTS

Ten trials met the inclusion criteria. Studies were classified as: (1) PCP counseling alone, (2) PCP counseling + pharmacotherapy, and (3) “collaborative” obesity care (treatment delivered by a non-physician provider). Weight losses in the active treatment arms of these categories of studies ranged from 0.1 to 2.3 kg, 1.7 to 7.5 kg, and 0.4 to 7.7 kg, respectively. Most studies provided low- or moderate-intensity counseling, as defined by the US Preventive Services Task Force.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence does not support the use of low- to moderate-intensity physician counseling for obesity, by itself, to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss. PCP counseling plus pharmacotherapy, or intensive counseling (from a dietitian or nurse) plus meal replacements may help patients achieve this goal. Further research is needed on different models of managing obesity in primary care practice.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Preparation of this manuscript was supported, in part, by NIH grants U01-HL087072, DK065018, and 5-K12-HD043459–04. The funding agencies had no role in the design and conduct of the review or in the preparation of the manuscript.

Potential conflict of interest

Dr. Tsai served from 2006–2008 as an unpaid consultant to a medically supervised low-calorie diet program at the University of Pennsylvania that uses products manufactured by Health Management Resources.™ Dr. Wadden serves as an unpaid consultant to the same program. He has previously served (but not since 2005) as a consultant to Novartis Nutrition, which manufactures OPTIFAST™, and to Abbott Laboratories, which markets sibutramine (Meridia™).

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Correspondence to Adam Gilden Tsai MD, MSCE.

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Tsai, A.G., Wadden, T.A. Treatment of Obesity in Primary Care Practice in the United States: A Systematic Review. J GEN INTERN MED 24, 1073–1079 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-1042-5

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