Weight Management Essay

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Recommended: Chapter 4: weight management

Behavior plays a significant role in weight management, and modifying behaviors that contribute to weight gain is the best way to combat obesity. Lifestyle modification techniques apply to both obesity prevention and treatment, and include three primary components: diet, exercise, and behavior therapy. The purpose is to change eating and activity behaviors that contribute to obesity and initiate new behaviors needed to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend that overweight adults with comorbid conditions and obese adults lose 10% of their initial weight. [1]
The health care bill H.R. 3962, or the Affordable Health Care for America Act, states that overweight and obesity prevention programs are to be evidence-based and emphasize improved nutrition and increased physical activity. [2] In 2014, a study of 60 meta-analyses and 23 systematic reviews concluded that dietary and multi-component interventions are the most effective strategies for weight loss and improving diet and activity compared to other interventions including pharmaceutical, surgical, and activity alone. [3] Thus, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends a comprehensive program of program of diet, exercise, and behavior therapy as a first line treatment for obese persons and those who are overweight with at least two risk factors.
Introduction
According to WHO, obesity is a global epidemic. Obesity is caused by a chronic state of positive energy balance, meaning that more energy is being consumed than expended. Excess fat tissue is the characteristic sign of obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 kilograms per square meter. BMI compares weight...

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...rcise habits. Programs of greater length are more effective than those of shorter length, so maintaining weight loss can be improved by prolonging contact between patients, health professionals, and support groups. Also, programs with clinically demonstrated efficacy should be first choices, like DPP and Look AHEAD. Furthermore, new technologies like smartphones and tablets make it easier and more convenient to monitor food intake, activity, and weight. Call centers, web-based programs, and social networking sites increase the accessibility of lifestyle modification programs. Implementing BT with these electronic delivery channels should supplement efforts to prevent overweight and obesity. It clear that behavior modification is the cornerstone of weight management and, regardless of how the person lost weight, BT is recommended for both weight loss and maintenance.

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