Program Research

CONSEQUENCES OF BMI OVER 30

Increases health problems:

  • Coronary heart disease

  • Diabetes

  • Various cancers

  • Gallstones

  • Disabilities

  • Emotional distress

  • Severe illness from COVID-19

(CDC, 2020; CDC 2021; USPSTF, 2018)

Increased death rate:

  • Adults live 3.7 years less than general population & have a 20% significantly higher death rate from all causes

  • Under age 65 at high risk for death from ischemic heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and cancer

(USPSTF, 2018)

Treating comorbid medical conditions requires:

  • Increased use of health care services

  • Increased health care costs

(CDC, 2021; USPSTF, 2018)

Estimated annual U.S. cost: $147 billion dollars (CDC, 2021)

Factors contributing to weight control problem:

  • Psychological factors

  • Medication

  • Genetics

  • Energy imbalance between calories in and calories burned

  • Malfunctioning hormones affecting appetite

  • Sleep deprivation

Research-based treatment approach:

  • META-Analysis performed by LeBlanc, et al. (2018) concluded that behavioral-based treatments are safe and effective for weight loss.

  • Behavioral interventions demonstrated a weight loss average of 5% of their baseline weight in the first year with 12 to 26 treatment sessions.

  • Increased sessions were associated with increased weight loss.

  • A weight loss of 5% is considered clinically important by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

  • Behavioral interventions decreased the incidence of diabetes.

  • Behavioral interventions demonstrated some improvement in blood pressure, waist circumference, and glucose tolerance.


 

References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Adult Obesity Facts. Retrieved April 3, 2021 from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 17). Obesity, race/Ethnicity, and COVID-19. Retrieved April 4, 2021 from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html

Final Recommendation Statement: Weight Loss to Prevent Obesity-Related Morbidity in Adults: Behavioral Interventions. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. September 2018. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/document/RecommendationStatementFinal/obesity-in-adults-interventions

Jin, J. (2018). Behavioral Interventions for Weight Loss. JAMA, 320(11),1210 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.13125

LeBlanc EL, Patnode CD, Webber EM, Redmond N Rushkin M, O’Connor EA. Behavioral and Pharmacotherapy Weight Loss Interventions to Prevent Obesity-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Adults: An Updated Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Evidence Synthesis No 168.Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2018. AHRQ publication 18-05239-EF-1.