Safe and effective management of the obese patient

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased dramatically in the recent decades, and obesity is now a major public health problem. Obesity negatively influences an individual's health by increasing mortality and raising the risk for multiple medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease. In addition, the obese individual is often the brunt of social discrimination. Weight loss has been shown to reduce the risk for many of these comorbid conditions. A multifaceted approach to the obese patient should include identifying potential causes for weight gain, outlining medical conditions that would benefit by weight loss, and tailoring a weight loss program that is safe and effective for the individual. Components of a successful weight loss program include dietary intervention, recommendations for physical activity, behavior modification, and, in a select group of patients, pharmacologic or surgical intervention.