[Health education in obesity: evaluation of the efficacy of a program]

A program for weight reduction in obese individuals detected in a general practice was evaluated and compared with alternative usual types of management. From March to December 1987 the index of body mass (IBM) was systematically measured in 790 individuals older than 15 and younger than 65 years who attended a general practice. 42% of them had IBM higher than 25 and were considered as obese, being then randomly assigned to an experimental or a control groups. In the first group, educational counselling to lose weight based on health information was offered, hypocaloric diet was given, and motivational support during follow up was provided, mainly by nurses. The results in 155 individuals (63 cases and 92 controls) free from confusing factors and followed up for a mean period of 239 days were evaluated. The cases demonstrated a higher degree of information and lost more weight. The effectiveness of the experimental program was 22%, while that of routine management was 8%. The difference in success rates was 15.7% (95% C.I.: 28.5%, 2.9%), favoring the experimental group.