A cross-sectional cost/benefit audit in a hospital obesity clinic.

A cross-sectional survey was made of the 25 men and 127 women attending a hospital obesity clinic over a period of 6 weeks. Among the men the mean (+/- s.d.) age was 37 (+/- 14) years, weight 115.2 (+/- 25.4) kg, height 1.70 (+/- 0.09) m, and Quetelet's index 39.6 (+/- 6.4) kg/m2. Among the women the corresponding values were 41 (+/- 15) years, 102.2 (+/- 22.3) kg, 1.60 (+/- 0.07) m, and 40.3 (+/- 9.2) kg/m2. The most common reasons for wishing to lose weight among both men and women was to improve appearance, shortness of breath and pain in weight-bearing joints. About one-third of the patients tested had raised fasting plasma triglyceride levels. Only one had tests indicating hypothyroidism, and two were hyperthyroid. None of these characteristics predicted how long the patient would continue to attend the clinic. Weight loss was calculated according to the duration of attendance at the clinic, and the method of treatment. Two men and 15 women were treated by jaw-wiring, and the remainder by dietary advice alone. No anorectic or thermogenic drugs were used. Among men treated by diet alone the mean weight loss after 1-3 months, 4-6 months, 7-12 months and greater than or equal to 13 months attendance was 5.0 +/- 6.2 kg, 12.4 +/- 11.0 kg, 12.4 +/- 10.2 kg and 13.0 +/- 5.2 kg respectively. Two men treated by jaw-wiring had lost 23.9 and 57.9 kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)