Behavioral management of obesity.

Much progress has been made in the development of behavioral programs in recent years. As a consequence, the behavioral approach now is integrated into most programs for weight loss. Because "behavior modification" is practiced so widely, there is a tendency to believe that it consists of little more than a series of techniques or tricks such as record keeping and slowing eating, and that programs do not vary much in how it is employed. This is mistaken. A modern day, comprehensive program is sophisticated and involves systematic work, not only on eating behavior, but on exercise, attitudes, social relationships, nutrition, and other factors. The better behavioral programs now are producing weight losses in the range of 25 to 30 lb. The greatest strength of the behavioral approach, however, lies in the maintenance of weight loss. This is an area where exciting developments are occurring. These developments are important, not only to clinicians and programs using behavior modification per se, but to professionals using nearly any approach to weight loss where the maintenance of loss is an issue. The horizon holds much promise for the potential of behavioral approaches, used alone or in combination with other treatments for obesity.