Obese Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors Should Receive Intensive Counseling in Primary Care Settings

Target Audience: Primary care providers who treat adults who are overweight or obese and who have cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors

Background and Objective

CVD is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S. Nearly half of all U.S. adults (age, >20) have at least one CVD risk factor, and almost 70% are overweight or obese. The USPSTF has updated its 2003 recommendations on providing primary care counseling interventions focused on diet and physical activity. The Task Force evaluated the effects of counseling on physiological parameters and cardiovascular outcomes.

Key Recommendations

The USPSTF concludes (with moderate certainty) that intensive behavioral counseling to …