Minnesota studies on community-based approaches to weight loss and control.

Community-based approaches to weight control including worksite interventions, intervention by home correspondence, and multimodal community strategies are reviewed. Community-based programs have shown the ability to treat large numbers of obese persons, many of whom probably would not spontaneously seek professional care. Community-based approaches produce modest weight losses at lower costs than do clinical interventions. Although no community program has yet to reduce the prevalence of obesity in the general population, this area is relatively new and deserves further study. Recommended areas for future research include strategies for recruitment to community programs and primary prevention of weight gain.