THE REALISTIC TREATMENT OF OBESITY - CHANGING THE SCALES OF SUCCESS

Patients and practitioners are confronted with mixed messages about th e value of obesity treatment. Serious treatment is supported by the me dical consequences associated with obesity. Abandoning current treatme nt is suggested by a lack of long-term efficacy. We suggest a reevalua tion of the assumptions and practices of obesity treatment. Empirical support for changing our current thinking about obesity treatment is p resented. This change in philosophy and practice is based on five fact ors: (a) targeting those at highest medical risk; (b) acknowledging th e role of biological factors in treatment goals; (c) addressing the ps ychological heterogeneity of obese persons; (d) setting reasonable exp ectations for long-term outcome; and (e) assessing the benefits and ri sks of weight loss. It is suggested that these factors promote a more realistic view of obesity treatment and allow practitioners and client s to make more informed decisions about the benefits and risks of trea tment.