Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS)

Peer-reviewed | Manuscript received: December 23, 2016 | Revision accepted: March 8, 2017

A descriptive analysis of obese patients on the multimodal weight loss program DOC WEIGHT^®

Introduction

Obesity is a chronic disease which is accompanied by a reduction in quality of life and an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. It requires a long-term treatment [1]. The prevalence of obesity in Germany has risen significantly in recent decades [2] – a trend seen not only in Germany; the number of obese people is expected to rise to 1.12 billion worldwide by 2030 [3].

BMI, on which the World Health Organization’s (WHO) classification of overweight and obesity is based, is regarded as insufficient as the sole indicator in the assessment of the health of obese people. A comprehensive view of physical and psychological health is required to assess the clinical picture and the choice of suitable treatment.

Abstract

The multimodal weight loss program DOC WEIGHT^® was developed because of a rising prevalence of obesity in Germany. The objective of the program is to reduce the incidence of overweight and obesity-related diseases in the long term. This study examines the changes which occurred during the one-year program assisted by a classification according to the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) as regards related to diseases, metabolic parameters and impairment in quality of life.

To this end, 141 patients were retrospectively classified using the EOSS at the time of the initial examination (t₀) and after completion of the program (t₁) (stage 0: no risk factors to stage 4: end stage related diseases). At t₀ 82.3% of patients were assigned to stage 2. At the time of the final examination t₁ most patients were also allocated to stage 2 (n = 112; 79.4%). However, the frequency of stages 2 and 3 decreased in favor of stages 0 and 1. 26 patients were assigned to a stage at least one lower at t₁ compared to t₀. There was an overall average stage improvement of 0.16. Significant improvements were also seen among the majority within each stage in terms of the presence of co-morbidities, medications taken and pathological lab results.

Keywords: obesity, Edmonton Obesity Staging System, health risk, weight loss program, DOC WEIGHT^®

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