In this CPD issue

Abstract

This edition of the SAFP features five CPD articles, which I hope will add some new knowledge that may influence your practice. In the first, Lifestyle and obesity by EW Derman et al, obesity is defined as an excessive amount of body fat or adiposity, which is measured by the body mass index. There is ample evidence that obesity is clinically associated with a variety of chronic diseases and medical conditions, such as coronary artery disease. The authors stress that obesity is a global phenomenon and that, in South Africa, an estimated 29% of adult men and 56% of adult women are overweight or obese. To stem this tide, the management of obesity must be multi-faceted, involving the combined lifestyle interventions of regular physical activity and dietary and psychological measures. The benefits of regular physical exercise in obese patients include improved insulin sensitivity, favourable changes in metabolic rate, lipid profile, blood pressure and inflammatory markers, and an overall improvement in co-morbidity risk. The psychological treatment of obesity includes psychotherapy for binge eating, the management of co-morbid psychiatric disorders such as depression, behavioural programmes that address adherence to a healthy eating plan, and coping skills to manage relapse. The article covers the role of commercial weight loss or self-help programmes, and stresses that the evidence to support the majority of commercial and self-help weight loss programmes is lacking. The authors conclude that general practitioners should be aware of the benefits of exercise and healthy nutritional and psychological interventions, and that they should assist their patients by suggesting adherence to accepted physical activity and nutritional guidelines.