A 2-year research shows a promising way to lose weight – The Next Digit

The general perception about weight loss is that it is determined by things like diet and exercise. But a two-year study has shown that people who seek seen help from their doctors lose significantly more weight than those who do it by themselves.

According to Dr. Wendy Bennett, an assistant professor at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, “The trial supports other evidence that providers are very important in their patients’ weigh loss efforts. Incorporating physicians into future programs might lead patients to more successful weight loss.”

The study was conducted on 347 patients who participated in the Practice-based Opportunities for Weight Reduction or POWER. It showed that working with a coach or guide while undergoing a weight loss program that patients ranked as helpful resulted in an average weight loss of 111 pounds.

On the other hand, people whose doctors who did not find their weight-loss doctors helpful or didn’t consult doctors at all, only shed an average of 5 pounds over the two-year study.

The study sheds light on the benefits of team-based planning for weight-loss and scientists are hopeful that health insurance companies will offer plans that will cover weight-loss treatments. As the study clearly shows, having someone to encourage and guide you can make a significant difference.

This is an important study as the recent National Institute of Health Statistics suggest that more than one-third of all adults in the United States are suffering from obesity.

The report of this study has been published in the August 21st issue of the scientific journal Patient Education and Counseling.

[ Source ]