Very Obese Can Lose With Program

An intense program that does not involve surgery can help some extremely obese people lose weight, a new study found. The study included 390 adults. They had a body mass index of 40 or more, which is very obese. People were randomly assigned to a weight-loss program or an Internet program. The program included medicine, a short-term liquid diet, a longer-term diet and group counseling. About half of each group stayed in the study for two years. In that time, 31% of those in the intensive program lost 5% or more of their body weight. About 7% lost at least 20% of their body weight. Those who received usual care lost less weight. About 9% of them lost at least 5% of their weight. About 1% of this group lost 20% or more. The study appeared January 26 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.