Office-based treatment of adult obesity

Treatment for obesity often entails frustration for both physician and patient because of the great difficulty of maintaining weight loss over the long term. This article follows the history and treatment of a 40-year-old woman who was surprised when she was diagnosed as obese. The authors describe the terminology, etiology, and physiology of obesity and recommend a combination of diet, nutrition education, exercise, behavior modification, and social support. Though few physicians can offer this comprehensive approach in their office, they can guide patients in choosing an individualized combination of office-based services and community resources.