MATCHING INDIVIDUALS TO WEIGHT-LOSS TREATMENTS - A SURVEY OF OBESITY EXPERTS

For identification of factors for matching individuals to treatments, experts in the field of obesity were surveyed about the indications an d contraindications for 11 common approaches to weight loss. The exper ts provided 170 client characteristics as possible matching factors, y et only 5 factors were matched to specific programs by 50% or more of the respondents. The results are discussed with regard to potential va riables for studies on matching individuals to treatments, working hyp otheses to be tested, and the value of matching information for clinic al decision making.