Full Guidelines
Click here to view article
Tools
Additional Documents
Click here to see additional documents
Summary of recommendations for clinicians and policy-makers
Recommendations
Measurement of BMI
These recommendations apply to apparently healthy adults ≥ 18 years of age who present to primary care. These recommendations do not apply to people with eating disorders, or who are pregnant.
- We recommend measuring height, weight and calculating BMI at appropriate primary care visits.
(Strong recommendation; very low quality evidence)
Prevention of weight gain
These recommendations do not apply to people with eating disorders, or who are underweight, pregnant, overweight or obese (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥ 25).
- We recommend that practitioners not offer formal, structured interventions aimed at preventing weight gain in normal weight adults.
(Weak recommendation; very low quality evidence)
Management of overweight and obesity
These recommendations apply to adults ≥ 18 years of age who are overweight or obese (25 ≤ BMI < 40). Pregnant women and people with health conditions where weight loss is inappropriate are excluded. These guidelines do not apply to people with BMI ≥ 40, who may benefit from specialized bariatric programs.
- For adults who are obese (30 ≤ BMI < 40) and are at high risk of diabetes, we recommend that practitioners offer or refer to structured behavioural interventions aimed at weight loss.
(Strong recommendation; moderate quality evidence) - For adults who are overweight or obese, we recommend that practitioners offer or refer to structured behavioural interventions aimed at weight loss.
(Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence) - For adults who are overweight or obese, we recommend that practitioners not routinely offer pharmacologic interventions (orlistat or metformin) aimed at weight loss.
(Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence)
Additional Documents
-
Protocol (pdf)
- Prevention Systematic Review (pdf)
- Treatment Systematic Review (pdf)
- Maintenance Supplementary Report (pdf)
- Published Systematic Review
- Prevention List of Excluded Studies (pdf)
- Treatment List of Excluded Studies (pdf)
- CMAJ Author Podcast
- Guideline Presentation