Overweight and obese patients who were referred to Weight Watchers lost twice as much weight as those who received standard care in general practice, a study in The Lancet has shown. A total of 772 adults, with a BMI 27-35 kg/m² and at least one additional risk factor for obesity-related disease, were recruited from primary care practices in the UK, Australia and Germany. The study was a parallel group, non-blinded, randomised controlled trial. The authors concluded that a commercial weight loss programme that provides regular weighing, advice about diet and physical activity, motivation, and group support could offer a clinically useful early intervention for weight management in overweight and obese people.