Experience with a hospital-based weight reduction program.

A pilot project "Nutritional Service for Weight Reduction", utilizing allied health personnel, was organized by the Departments of Medicine and Dietetics at the Calgary General Hospital. Body measurements and biochemical tests were required at the beginning and end of the 12-week program. Meetings were held at which the subjects submitted their weekly food record, received counselling by nutritionists, and attended lectures on physiology, metabolism of food, nutrition and the importance of exercise. Thirty-one subjects completed the program. All lost weight, the total for the group being 197 kg. At the first follow-up meeting, 17 subjects showed further weight loss, three maintained their weight and 11 regained some weight.