Recommendations Summary

Adult Weight Management (AWM) Multiple Behavior Therapy Strategies

Click here to see the explanation of recommendation ratings (Strong, Fair, Weak, Consensus, Insufficient Evidence) and labels (Imperative or Conditional). To see more detail on the evidence from which the following recommendations were drawn, use the hyperlinks in the Supporting Evidence Section below.


  • Recommendation(s)

    AWM: Multiple Behavior Therapy Strategies

    A comprehensive weight management program should make maximum use of multiple strategies for behavior therapy (e.g. self monitoring, stress management, stimulus control, problem solving, contingency management, cognitive restructuring, and social support). Behavior therapy in addition to diet and physical activity leads to additional weight loss. Continued behavioral interventions may be necessary to prevent a return to baseline weight.

    Rating: Strong
    Imperative

    • Risks/Harms of Implementing This Recommendation

      None.

    • Conditions of Application

      No conditions specified.

    • Potential Costs Associated with Application

      None.

    • Recommendation Narrative

      • Behavior therapy, in combination with an energy deficit, provides additional benefits in assisting patients to lose weight short term (1 year).  NHLBI Evidence Category B. 
      • Behavior therapy's effectiveness for long term weight maintenance has not been shown in the absense of continued behavioral intervention.  NHLBI Evidence Category B. 
      • No one behavior therapy appeared superior to any other in its effect on weight loss, rather multimodal strategies appeared to work best and those interventions with the greatest intensity appeared to be associated with the greatest weight loss.  NHLBI Evidence Category A. 
      • Long term follow up of patients undergoing behavior therapy shows a return to baseline weight in the great majority of subjects in the absence of continued behavioral intervention.  NHLBI Evidence Category B.

    • Recommendation Strength Rationale

      • NHLBI Evidence Categories of A and B

    • Minority Opinions

      Consensus reached.