CHICAGO – Nearly 60% of obese adults aren’t currently taking any steps to lose weight, according to a large national survey.
"That’s a surprisingly high figure. It suggests a dire need to better educate the public about the health consequences of obesity and the importance of addressing the problem with their doctors," Z. Jason Wang, Ph.D., said at the joint meeting of the International Congress of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society*.
Bruce Jancin/Frontline Medical News
Dr. Z. Jason Wang
Moreover, of the minority of obese U.S. adults who report they actually are trying to lose weight, only 1 in 20 is taking prescription weight loss medication or has resorted to bariatric surgery. The rest are using what Dr. Wang categorized as self-modification methods: diet, exercise, OTC weight loss agents, structured weight management programs, and/or nutritional supplements.
Patient satisfaction was much higher among those using surgery or prescription medications. Thirty-nine percent of them reported being extremely or very satisfied with their weight loss method, compared with just 20% using only self-modification methods.
"This finding may mean that diet and exercise alone just don’t work for a lot of people," said Dr. Wang, director of health economics and outcomes research at Eisai in Woodcliff Lake, N.J.
He presented an analysis of data obtained from 22,927 obese adult participants in the 2012 National Health and Wellness Survey, an annual Internet-based survey which samples a demographically representative slice of the adult U.S. population.
Fully 59% of the obese respondents indicated they aren’t taking any action in an effort to lose weight. A mere 2% reported taking prescription weight loss medication or having bariatric surgery. Another 39% were relying on self-modification methods.
The National Health and Wellness Survey is conducted by Kantar Health, a health care industry consulting company. The analysis was supported by Eisai. The presenter is an Eisai employee.
*Correction, 7/1/2014: An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the International Congress of Endocrinology.