A woman comes to the clinic to talk about weight reduction.The primary care nurse practitioner (NP)calculates a body mass index (BMI)of 28.The woman's waist measures 34 inches.The woman tells the NP that she would like to lose 20 lb for her daughter's wedding in 6 months.The NP should:

Question

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This woman's BMI is in the moderate range for overweight,and her waist circumference is 34,which is not diagnostic for metabolic syndrome.Because her apparent motivation for losing weight is based on an upcoming event,the NP first should determine what her short-term and long-term weight loss goals are before initiating therapy.Orlistat is used long-term and would not be appropriate in this case.Phentermine should be used short-term and,because of serious risks,should be used only as adjunct therapy to lifestyle modifications.The initial intervention for weight loss is physical activity and diet modification.

A Woman Comes to the Clinic to Talk About Weight