Invited Commentary

Commentary on "Comparison of Traditional and Nontraditional Weight Loss Methods: An Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey"

Authors: Victor O. Kolade, MD

Abstract

At a prevalence of 36%, obesity is one of the most common diseases in the United States, competing for dominance with hypertension1,2 and tobacco use. Costs and morbidity related to obesity are astronomical. Clinician provision of effective counseling of patients for tobacco cessation has been suboptimal3; this also is true with regard to weight loss counseling.4 Indeed, assistance, provision, or review of an actual method to facilitate weight loss was documented in just one-eighth of 461 recorded physician encounters with overweight or obese patients.4

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References

1. Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, et al. Prevalence of obesity in the United States, 2009-2010. NCHS Data Brief 2012:1-8.
 
2. Olives C, Myerson R, Mokdad AH, et al. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in United States counties, 2001Y2009. PLoS One 2013;8:e60308.
 
3. Quinn VP, Stevens VJ, Hollis JF, et al. Tobacco-cessation services and patient satisfaction in nine nonprofit HMOs. Am J Prev Med 2005;29:77-84.
 
4. Alexander SC, Cox ME, Boling Turer CL, et al. Do the five A’s work when physicians counsel about weight loss? Fam Med 2011;43:179-184.
 
5. Post RE, Johnson SP, Wright RU, et al. Comparison of traditional and nontraditional weight loss methods: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. South Med J 2014;107:410-415.
 
6. Pollack H. Prophylaxis of obesity in the adult. Bull N Y Acad Med 1960;36:389-398.