Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1998;36:89-92; doi:10.1136/dtb.1998.361289
Copyright © 1998 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation

Why and how should adults lose weight?

Relevant BNF section: 4.5

Being overweight increases the risk of developing many common diseases including type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, gallstones and various cancers of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts.¹ It can also cause or exacerbate osteoarthritis, breathlessness, heartburn, sleep apnoea, venous thromboembolism and psychological distress, particularly anxiety and depression. It makes anaesthesia and surgery more hazardous, and in pregnancy increases the risks associated with childbirth. Being overweight can also complicate day-to-day social functioning such as negotiating seats on public transport or purchasing clothes. In this article, we review the evidence that weight loss is beneficial and how this might be achieved using lifestyle changes, drug therapy, or surgery.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Surgery for obesity in adults DTB, June 1, 2008; 46(6): 41 - 45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Cormac, D. Martin, and M. Ferriter Improving the physical health of long-stay psychiatric in-patients Advan. Psychiatr. Treat., March 1, 2004; 10(2): 107 - 115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]