[Effectiveness of a program for treatment of overweight and nonmorbid obesity in primary healthcare and its influence lifestyle modification].

BACKGROUND

Lifestyle intervention is fundamental for obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a program focused on diet, exercise and psychological support on Lifestyle Modification in overweight and obese patients treated in Primary Health Care setting.

METHODS

60 patients with grade II overweight and non-morbid grade I-II obesity were included in this pilot clinical trial. Ages ranged from 18 to 50 years. They were provided with a program combining nutritional education, physical activity and psychological support. Subjects attended group sessions every 2 weeks. The main outcome measures at baseline and 6 months were body composition parameters (BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference) and lifestyle intervention using the Questionnaire for the assessment of overweight and obesity related lifestyles at baseline and six months. This questionnaire yields an five dimensions: diet caloric intake (CC), healthy eating (AS), physical activity (EF), searching for psychological well-being eating (BP) and alcohol intake (CA). The higher score indicates better lifestyles for CC, AS, EF and worse for BP y CA.

RESULTS

At the end of the intervention the program achieved improvements in Questionnaire related lifestyles subscales: CC (2,60 ± 0,5 vs. 3,49 ± 0,7, p<0,001), EF (2,19 ± 0,9 vs. 3,17 ± 1,0, p<0,001) and AS (3,04 ± 0,4 vs. 3,43 ± 0,4, p<0,05); CA (3,98 ± 0,7 vs. 4,25 ± 0,7, p<0,05) and BP (2,82 ± 1,0 vs. 3,34 ± 0,7, p<0,001) has got worse.

CONCLUSION

The Program focused on balanced and moderate energy-restricted diets, increased physical activity and psychological support may improve the anthropometric parameters and the Lifestyle intervention in obese patients treated in a primary healthcare center.