Role of Commercial Weight-Loss Programs in Medical Management of Obesity.

Rates of obesity counseling are low among physicians because of the lack of time and training in this area. In recognition of this challenge, recent national guidelines encourage physicians to refer patients with obesity to intensive, comprehensive lifestyle programs to lose weight. Some commercial weight-loss programs meet these criteria, and this article reviews the evidence from randomized controlled trials regarding such programs' weight-loss efficacy and safety as well as glycemic outcomes among patients with and without diabetes mellitus. A discussion of how physicians might approach the referral process and continued management of patients participating in these programs is included.