Current Evidence-Based Treatment of Obesity

Plant-based diet for obesity treatment

Obesity rates continue to rise, resulting in a global epidemic that shows no sign of slowing down. Our understanding of this complex disease is also constantly evolving, requiring healthcare providers to stay up to date with best practices. The application of plant-based diets (PBDs) may hold the key to a successful weight-control strategy. PBD refers to any dietary pattern that emphasizes the consumption of plant foods while excluding the consumption of most or all animal products. The purpose of this mini-review is to report on the application of PBDs as a potential treatment for obesity. PBDs have also been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of other non-communicable diseases, such as the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Many of the reported RCTs were of short duration. Longer-term studies, as well as studies focusing on strict adherence to the PBD regime, are needed. PBD is a beneficial approach to improving health, particularly in obese patients. Benefits include weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and improved glucose metabolism.

Motivation and Limiting Factors for Adherence to Weight Loss Interventions among Patients with Obesity in Primary Care

The cornerstones of obesity management are diet, physical activity and behavioral change. However, there is considerable scientific evidence that lifestyle interventions to treat obesity are rarely implemented in primary care. The aim of this study is to analyze motivation to lose weight among patients with obesity, the resources implemented by primary care centers to promote behavioral change and the limiting factors reported by the patients themselves when attempting to lose weight. A total of 209 patients diagnosed with obesity were interviewed. The variables were obtained from both electronic clinical records (sex, age, BMI, diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and records of activities prescribed to promote behavioral change) and a self-administered personal questionnaire. A total of 67.5% of the respondents reported not having sufficient motivation to adhere to a weight loss program. Records of behavioral change activities were identified in only 3% of the clinical records reviewed. The barriers to adherence to diet and exercise plans most frequently mentioned by patients were not having a prescribed diet (27.8%), joint pain (17.7%), getting tired or bored of dieting (14.8%) and laziness (11.5%). Both the high percentage of patients reporting insufficient motivation to lose weight and the barriers to weight loss identified suggest that patients feel the need to improve their motivation, which should be promoted through primary care.