Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
From last week’s ADA national scientific sessions I learned positive news more on weight loss interventions. I wanted to report to you on the easiest and less costly of the interventions described at the convention. I learned that just behavior modification for being overweight can increase a diabetes sufferer’s lifespan by 11 years (if they don’t die of other natural causes) vs. increasing their life expectancy by three years with drug intervention, according to the results of a two-phase one-year study presented at ENDO 2005, the 87th annual meeting of the Endocrine Society.
“No single technique has been very successful in the primary care medical setting at helping people lose weight and keep it off. Even the use of medications by themselves has not had dramatic results,” James L. Early, MD, lead investigator, told Medscape. “However, a combination of three simple changes — basic counseling, medication and meal replacement — can successfully affect the treatment of obesity.”
In this study, investigators evaluated the efficacy of a drug intervention in combination with a structured low-calorie diet that included a daily meal replacement and simple behavioral counseling. Patients were treated in a setting similar to that of a community clinic. “We lent support to the patient in about the same minimal manner that can be done in a primary care office by a nurse or a medical assistant,” Dr. Early said. “Patients were advised to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables and to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.”
“Overall, the three-pronged approach to the treatment of obesity proved effective for weight loss and maintenance,” noted Dr. Early. “With a positive attitude and a desire to treat, it really does not take a whole lot in the office setting to get a significant weight loss and maintenance,” Dr. Early concluded. “This simple triple therapy for obesity has demonstrated the potential for sustained long-term outcomes.”
The drugs available for such therapy need to be prescribed by your doctor; however, the bottom line for success as I understood it was that both motivation and intense support were what is most needed for winning the weight loss battle, as it is for most successful health behavior modification such as smoking cessation.
The information presented here is not medical advice. You need to talk with your physician before making lifestyle changes. Please e-mail me with your suggestions, questions and comments on healthy living at [email protected].
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