Screening for Obesity in Adults

Release Date: December 2003

Summary of Recommendations / Supporting Documents

Summary of Recommendations

• The USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen all adult patients for obesity and offer intensive counseling and behavioral interventions to promote sustained weight loss for obese adults.
  Grade: B Recommendation.
• The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the use of moderate- or low-intensity counseling together with behavioral interventions to promote sustained weight loss in obese adults.
  Grade: I Statement.
• The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the use of counseling of any intensity and behavioral interventions to promote sustained weight loss in overweight adults.
  Grade: I Statement.

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Supporting Documents

Screening for Obesity in Adults, December 2003
Recommendations and Rationale (PDF File, 160 KB; PDF Help)
Summary of the Evidence (PDF File, 215 KB; PDF Help)
Systematic Evidence Review (PDF File Download)

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Current as of December 2003

Internet Citation:

Screening for Obesity in Adults, Topic Page. December 2003. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsobes.htm