A Systematic Review of Literature on the Effectiveness of Behavioral Weight Loss Programs to Achieve Weight Reduction

Obesity is an increasing problem in the United States. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese. Obesity can lead to multiple health problems such as heart disease and stroke. According to the CDC [1], in 2008, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billion and the medical costs paid by third-party payers for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight. Adequate screening is necessary in an effort to reduce obesity rates within the United States. Body Mass Index (BMI), a simple screening tool that is calculated using weight and height, usually correlates to the amount of body fat a person has. An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight and a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese [1]. While a BMI greater than 30 is not the sole indicator of obesity, it is a simple, cost effective tool that gives healthcare providers insight into a patient’s overall well being [1]. Maintaining a healthy BMI reduces costs to both the patient and third party insurance providers.