Behavioral therapy helps people lose weight. There are dozens of diets, exercise programs and weight loss formulas to help people shed excess pounds. A new meta-analysis of 58 clinical trials shows that programs to help people alter their eating behavior make a measurable difference. Lumping all the data together the investigators found that people who had at least 12 sessions in a comprehensive weight loss program lost 9 to 15 pounds over the course of a year. Such behavioral therapy provides practical therapy in setting realistic goals, overcoming barriers and maintaining a regular exercise program. The investigators concluded that behavioral programs work for weight loss. The more sessions someone attends the more weight he or she is likely to lose.
The People's Perspective on Medicine