Changing the Endpoints for Determining Effective Obesity Management Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2014.10.002 PMID: 25459976 Web of Science: 000348003900007
International Collaboration

Cited authors

  • Ross, Robert; Blair, Steve; de Lannoy, Louise; Despres, Jean-Pierre; Lavie, Carl J.

Abstract

  • Health authorities worldwide recommend weight loss as a primary endpoint for effective obesity management. Despite a growing public awareness of the importance of weight loss and the spending of billions of dollars by Americans in attempts to lose weight, obesity prevalence continues to rise. In this report we argue that effective obesity management in today's environment will require a shift in focus from weight loss as the primary endpoint, to improvements in the causal behaviors; diet and exercise/physical activity (PA). We reason that increases in PA combined with a balanced diet are associated with improvement in many of the intermediate risk factors including cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) associated with obesity despite minimal or no weight loss. Consistent with this notion, we suggest that a focus on healthy behaviors for the prevention of additional weight gain may be an effective way of managing obesity in the short term. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication date

  • 2015

Published in

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0033-0620

Start page

  • 330

End page

  • 336

Volume

  • 57

Issue

  • 4