Treatment of obesity in family practice

This paper describes the experience of a senior family practice resident in managing obesity using behavior modification techniques. Weight reduction was begun and continued by 9 of 32 identified obese patients. Patients who were successful in losing weight were those who kept accurate intake diaries, returned for follow-up, and had made prior attempts at weight loss. Patients who were unsuccessful in losing weight were those who kept incomplete intake diaries, had no continuing physician-patient relationship with the investigator, and had made no prior attempts at weight loss. The method management described allowed efficient use of physician time so that the time required was well within the limits set by a busy family practice setting.