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Other Treatments for Obesity

Counseling and Behavior Therapy

Consider counseling or behavior therapy if you feel that stress or emotions play a role in your eating habits. Obesity is often associated with unhelpful thought patterns related to your social image and frustration with attempts to lose weight. Often these thoughts can be a barrier to success. By working with a therapist, you can learn to understand:
  • When you tend to overeat
  • Why you tend to overeat
  • How to combat overeating tendencies
Therapy may help improve adults short-term weight loss. Therapy can also be beneficial for children and teens who are obese. Kids who are trying to lose weight may get the most benefit from group therapy that focuses on diet and behavior changes.

Weight Loss Programs

Weight loss programs are available in a number of different formats. Some provide only group support. Others provide one-on-one counseling along with meal replacements. Programs are also available online, where you can join a chat room or add your comments to a message board. No matter which format, many people find that getting support is helpful.

References

Beers MH, Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy . 17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck & Co; 1999.

Fauci A. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1998.

Obesity in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated August 16, 2012. Accessed August 28, 2012.

10/21/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Greaves CJ, Middlebrooke A, O'Loughlin L, et al. Motivational interviewing for modifying diabetes risk: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Gen Pract. 2008;58:535-540.

9/25/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Garipağaoğlu M, Sahip Y, Darendeliler F, Akdikmen O, Kopuz S, Sut N. Family-based group treatment versus individual treatment in the management of childhood obesity: randomized, prospective clinical trial. Eur J Pediatr. 2009;168:1091-1099.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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