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Obesity Screening and Counseling
US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation

Screen all adult patients routinely for obesity and offer obese patients high-intensity counseling about diet, exercise or both together with behavioral interventions for at least one year.

USPSTF Rating: "B" Recommendation


FACTS:


 
  • Per national guidelines1, which define obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, the prevalence of obesity amount adults in the U.S. has increased from 13% to 27 % over the last 40 years.
     
     
  • Obesity is more common in women and is especially prevalent within certain sub-populations such as African Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and certain Hispanic groups.
     
     
  • Obesity has been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stoke, hypertension, certain types of cancer (breast, colorectal, gallbladder, and endometrial), sleep apnea, and musculoskeletal disorders.1
     
     
  1. The Surgeon General's call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity. Rockvill, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General; 2001.