Modern weight management incorporates optimization of health and risk factors, irrespective of weight change, short-term weight loss and long-term prevention of weight gain/regain. Patients with excess body fat and elevated metabolic risks needing professional weight management can be identified by a large waist (>102 cm for men, >88 cm for women. A modest weight loss of 5–10 kg is achievable by many conventional dietary intervention methods, with multiple small benefits. However, this is usually insufficient to improve quality of life sufficiently for people to maintain their reduced weight.