Short‐medium‐long‐term efficacy of interdisciplinary intervention against overweight and obesity: Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of a nurse‐led interdisciplinary programme based on healthy eating, physical exercise, and cognitive behavioural therapy applied to anthropometric and cardiovascular measures, which are related to obesity in short, medium, and long term. Methods: We conducted a randomised controlled clinical trial with 74 obese and overweight participants (experimental group, n = 37; control group, n = 37). An interdisciplinary programme of 12 months was applied and coordinated by a nurse. Anthropometric and cardiovascular measures were taken at the pretest stage, every 6 months during the programme, and 1 year after it finished. Results: A beneficial effect was found regarding all anthropometric parameters. Tests for weight (F3;207 = 93.27; P < .001) and body mass index (F3;207 = 89.95; P < .001) indicate efficacy of intervention: The experimental group had a weight loss of 7.2 kg (−8.3%) compared to a 0.9 kg (+1.0%) gained in the control group. Systolic (F3;207 = 37.06; P < .001) and diastolic (F3;216 = 57.31; P < .001) blood pressure improved greatly in the experimental group. Forced vital capacity was also increased (F2;138 = 15.51; P < .001). Conclusion: The interdisciplinary programme coordinated by nurses improved the health of participants, maintaining long‐term effects. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Obesity has become a health‐related problem with epidemic proportions. Obesity prevalence has tripled between 1975 and 2016.The analysed population from Murcia (Spain) exceeds the Spanish prevalence numbers.Obesity has a multicausal origin, and therefore, the failures attributed to the traditional treatment of obesity are because of the development of unidirectional therapy‐based programmes, promoted and carried out by just a professional group. What this paper adds? Nurse‐led multidisciplinary programmes can control obesity.The study demonstrates a successful intervention in which the success of the I2AO2 multidisciplinary programme relies on the nurse role in all interventions with specialized professional managers, carrying out specific activities. The implications of this paper: The use of different therapeutic strategies supported by different professionals, with coordination, can be recommended to managers and health administrators to fight obesity and overweight.As obesity is a major cardiovascular risk factor, it should be studied from health, legal, and socioeconomic perspectives to minimize morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]