[Treatment of obesity in patient groups]

The purpose of this study was to assess the results of group treatment in obesity. Patients referred to a department of endocrinology were on referral given individual diet counselling, and the patients were then seen every second week for control weighing and supplemental counselling either in groups of 10-12, or individually. One hundred and twenty-three (97 female and 26 male) patients who during a two year period, 1991-1993, were referred to the outpatient clinic of the Department of Endocrinology were identified. Ninety-five percent of the patients were markedly obese, body mass index > 30 m2/kg. Seventy percent of the patients continued the treatment and were either followed in the groups or individually. The patients followed in the groups (n = 66) lost 5.2 kg during 127 days (median), and this is not significantly different from those followed individually (n = 22) who lost 4.9 kg during 98 days. In conclusion, only a small weight reduction is seen in obese patients treated either in groups or individually. These results are comparable with previously reported results from a Danish study only using individual counselling.