[Treatment of obesity in the elderly with behaviour modification techniques]

Several common methods of treating obesity (diet alone, diet plus medical information, and diet plus behaviour therapy) were compared in a health-spa setting. 107 men (mean age 57.3 +/- 8.0) and 116 women (mean age 61.0 +/- 7.7) participated in the study. Changes in weight during the 26 day treatment period and 3-month follow-up period were registered. The behaviour therapy group showed the greatest weight loss during the treatment period and the least weight gain at follow-up, the difference to the group with medical information was statistically significant. In the behaviour therapy group there were also fewer patients whose weight at follow-up was above their beginning weight.