Patient motivation and predicting outcome in a hospital obesity clinic.

One hundred and thirty-two women consecutively referred to a hospital obesity clinic were studied. Only 31 per cent attended for a year or more. The mean weight loss achieved by the 88 women who lost weight was 6.7 kg. The principal reason and degree of motivation for losing weight were not related to either the weight loss or the length of attendance. The initial anticipated rate of weight loss (AROWL) was of no predictive value, though this was influenced because all patients were given a 'realistic' AROWL at their first clinic visit. These results suggest that although specialist clinics may have a specific role to play, at present, obesity is a problem best dealth with on a community basis.