[Practical and clinical aspects of multifactorial therapy in obesity]

In the present study the effect of a combination of protein-restricted modified hypocaloric diet and a behavioural therapy in 125 obese patients was analyzed. Patients were divided in two groups: 96 patients were instructed and controlled by practitioners (group 1) and 29 patients were followed in our out-patient clinic (group 2). After 14 weeks on diet a mean weight reduction of 10.6 kg in group 1 and of 9.8 kg in group 2 was observed. Furthermore, a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and in mean cholesterol and triglyceride values was seen. Our results show the good effect of a modified protein-sparing fast in obese patients. However, it has to be emphasized that the most promising results have been those utilizing not only a nutritional but also a behavioral approach.