1.c. Development of the Evidence Model

The panel determined the evidence model used to develop the guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of obesity. The model contains two broad categories, the association of weight to cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the population and the clinical issues related to the treatment of the overweight individual. The population portion of the model addresses such questions as, "Is there an association between weight and cardiovascular risk factors?", and "Is there an association between weight and cardiovascular and noncardiovascular morbidity and mortality?" The patient portion of the model focuses on the clinical setting and addresses such questions as, "Does a reduction in weight result in a decrease in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality?" The model illustrates the areas requiring a thorough examination of the relevant scientific literature through data abstraction and evaluation (the hollow shaded arrows), the areas where the literature has been firmly established (the hollow arrows), and the areas requiring a consideration of the preexisting evidence for minority populations (the crosshatched arrows). The arrows in the model represent the questions the panel considered when looking at the evidence (see the Evidence Model Questions below).