Mixed
Non-surgical weight management programs (WMPs) for adults with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) lack a clear consensus on cost-effectiveness, largely due to short-term study durations and heterogeneous definitions of usual care.
For individuals with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35), non-surgical weight management programs exist but their cost-effectiveness is not clearly established. Most studies are short-term and do not capture long-term health outcomes. It is important to consult with healthcare providers to understand the potential benefits and costs of various non-surgical options, including lifestyle changes, VLCDs, and pharmacotherapy, as the evidence is heterogeneous.
Whilst evidence shows bariatric surgery is often cost-effective, there is no clear consensus on the cost-effectiveness of non-surgical WMPs... Most were short-term evaluations that did not capture the long-term costs and consequences of ORD... Heterogeneity in the definition of WMPs and usual care prevents formal evidence synthesis. We were unable to establish the most cost-effective WMPs.
Why this rating
Systematic review of 32 studies, but significant heterogeneity and methodological limitations reduce the certainty of the conclusion.
Source
A Systematic Review of the Evidence for Non-surgical Weight Management for Adults with Severe Obesity: What is Cost Effective and What are the Implications for the Design of Health Services?
Elisabet Jacobsen et al. · Current Obesity Reports · 2022
DOI 10.1007/s13679-022-00483-z
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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