Abstract
Obesity is a major contributor to many chronic diseases and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is also associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Toward the goals of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) for preventing CVD and promoting cardiovascular health, the ACC and AHA have collaborated with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and professional organizations to develop the "2013 AHA/ACC/TOS Guideline for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults". The 2013 guideline is the second edition of the 'Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults: the Evidence Report' published in 1998. The new guideline maintains its focus on primary care practitioners (PCPs) and their patients in an effort to manage obesity more effectively and to reduce cardiovascular risk. The new guideline limits its scope by using five critical questions (CQs) and provides a summary of evidence-based recommendations and a treatment algorithm derived from the five CQs. The five CQs deal with the risks of overweight and obesity and the benefits of weight loss, and evaluate the following three treatment areas: diet, behavioral therapy, and surgical therapy. The recommendations and treatment algorithm serve as a guide for PCPs in the evaluation, prevention, and management of being overweight and obesity.