Primary care referral for private weight loss treatment beneficial

January 01, 0001

Primary care referral for private weight loss treatment beneficial

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity needs effective approaches for weight loss in primary care and community settings. The researchers compared weight loss with standard treatment in primary care with that achieved after referral by the primary care team to a commercial provider in the community. In this parallel group, non-blinded, randomised controlled trial, 772 overweight and obese adults were recruited by primary care practices in Australia, Germany, and the UK. Participants were randomly assigned with a computer-generated simple randomisation sequence to receive either 12 months of standard care as defined by national treatment guidelines, or 12 months of free membership to a commercial programme (Weight Watchers), and followed up for 12 months. 377 participants were assigned to the commercial programme, of whom 230 (61%) completed the 12-month assessment; and 395 were assigned to standard care, of whom 214 (54%) completed the 12-month assessment.

In all analyses, participants in the commercial programme group lost twice as much weight as did those in the standard care group. Mean weight change at 12 months was - 5.06 kg for those in the commercial programme versus -2.25 kg for those receiving standard care. Participants reported no adverse events related to trial participation

The researchers concluded: "Referral by a primary health-care professional to a commercial weight loss programme that provides regular weighing, advice about diet and physical activity, motivation, and group support can offer a clinically useful early intervention for weight management in overweight and obese people that can be delivered at large scale."

Seems obvious. Note that this study was funded by Weight Watchers.

For the full abstract, click here.

The Lancet published online 8 September 2011 © 2011 Elsevier Limited
Primary care referral to a commercial provider for weight loss treatment versus standard care: a randomised controlled trial. Susan A Jebb, Amy L Ahern, Ashley D Olson et al. Correspondence to Susan Jebb: [email protected]

Category: T. Endocrine/Metabolic/Nutritional. Keywords: weight, loss, treatment, randomised controlled trial, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 30 September 2011

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