Purpose: To evaluate long-term results of hypocaloric dietetic treatment in patients with essential obesity.
Patients and methods: The study was carried out in 1,479 woman and 320 men. Body weight was evaluated at 3 months and at 1, 2 and 3 years.
Results: The best results in short term reduction of weight excess were found in obesity due to sedentariness or arisen after operation or emotional stress. It has been also observed that the percentage of subjects loosing weight decreased after the first year of treatment, while the percentage of subjects gaining body weight.
Conclusions: Long term hypocaloric dietetic treatment in subjects with low or moderate essential obesity should primarily be aimed preventing further gain in body weight.