GEE, THANKS FOR THE HELPFUL NEW STUDY

The folks that are getting everyone confused about what medical tests they should or shouldn't have and how ofter are making recommendations about weight loss.  They suggest that doctors:

should screen all adult patients for obesity during office visits and either refer obese patients to comprehensive weight-management programs or offer them one, says the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in new recommendations announced Monday.

Wow.  Ground breaking.  And do these folks actually believe that weight is not under discussion already during these visits?  Do they think obese people have not already looked into and probably tried some of these programs?

They go on to say:

studies show that comprehensive programs can lead to a loss of about 6% of obese patients' starting weight, or roughly 9 to 15 pounds, the panel says. That amount of weight loss may reduce their risk factors for heart disease, the panel says in its recommendations, published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine.  If you're obese and you "lose 5% of your weight, you're doing your body a favor."

Really?  If I lose 15 of the 140 pounds I should lose then my weight loss program is a grand success? 

They say:

After reviewing 58 weight-loss studies, the task force found that there is adequate scientific evidence to show that moderate to high-intensity comprehensive behavioral weight-loss programs with 12 to 26 sessions in the first year can help people lose weight.

The best programs often include both group and individual sessions and focus on setting weight-loss goals, improving diet and physical activity, and helping patients monitor food intake and exercise.

"These types of programs really focus on changing your lifestyle," Grossman says. Physicians can refer patients to registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, personal trainers and others who direct weight-loss programs, he says. "Some commercial and non-profit weight-management programs offer many of these features."

Is my very expensive insurance going to help pay for these programs, trainers and dieticians?  No.  Didn't think so. 

I know that my weight issues are laregly psychological and some people, maybe a lot of people, just don't understand the rules of healthy eating and living.  Some people I have seen on TV shows appear to never eat a vegetable, don't have a clue how to eat a balanced diet and never exercise - so I know these guidelines have an audience.

But in reality, all the fat people I know and most of the skinny ones, have been there done that with the diets and diet programs.  Instead of pointing out the obvious, how about getting insurance companies who are blaming their high costs on obesity to kick in some coverage for gyms and pay per session weight management programs?