What are the best ways of tackling obesity?

A systematic review of the literature on the treatment and prevention of obesity carried out by the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) demonstrates that the prevalence of excess weight and obesity are on the increase. The review indicates that certain interventions in primary care can be effective, while surgery appears to be most effective in severe obesity. It highlights limitations in the available research in the area. The article is abstracted from the April 1997 issue of Effective Health Care published by the NHS CRD.