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- Behavior therapy aimed at changing diet and increasing physical activity is essential in treating obesity. But it is not always enough.
- ICSI guidelines–the recognized standard of care—call for drug therapy as well as behavior modification and bariatric surgery depending on the circumstances.
- Drug therapy should be an option for patients with a BMI of 27 or more who are enrolled in a program aimed at improving nutrition and increasing physical activity and who are not losing weight.
- According to ICSI guidelines, obesity drugs along with changes in nutrition and activity can lead to an average yearly weight loss of 4-12 percent in obese adults.
- Losing 5 percent to 10 percent of body weight can help patients improve their glycemic levels, blood pressure, and lipid levels, thus preventing or delaying diseases such as diabetes and coronary artery disease.
- Preventing serious disease and the need for surgery will improve the health and quality of life of people who are covered under state programs.
- And, in the long term, it will reduce health care costs.
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