EXPLORING NEW APPROACHES IN WEIGHT LOSS THROUGH A SYSTEMATIC STUDY

S. B. Fatima* and Hna Alnhair

Background: The identification of factors associated with weight loss maintenance can enhance our understanding for the behaviors and prerequisites that are crucial in achieving and sustaining a lowered body weight. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the weight-loss experiences of dieters not aligned to research, to provide a rich, detailed account of how these people experienced and accommodated their weight loss efforts, in real-life contexts. Methods: Literature searches were conducted in PubMed/Medline and PsycINFO/OVID for peer reviewed manuscripts published in English from 2000 onwards. We included studies based on systematic literature searches that included at least one primary intervention evaluation comprising of a non-surgical or a surgical intervention. Citations retrieved were selected to illustrate the points. Discussion: According to our review, successful weight maintenance is associated with more initial weight loss. Lifestyle strategies to modify eating behavior is indicated in helping patients modify their patterns of eating. Physical activity is particularly important in helping patients maintain a weight loss once achieved and is less valuable for weight loss itself. Food intake is controlled through many different mechanisms, but only a few drugs have been developed that tap these mechanisms. Surgical approaches provide the most dramatic weight loss and have been demonstrated to reduce long-term mortality. These promising results should stimulate the adoption of multidisciplinary approaches based on lifestyle modification for the management of obesity. Conclusions: Evidence from this systematic review suggests that long term weight loss through changes in eating and physical activity is possible. Weight loss can be achieved by many methods, but the recent surgical procedures appear to be the most durable.