A meta-analysis on the changes of BMI during an inpatient treatment with different follow-up lengths (short and long term) compared with the outpatient phase in obese patients.

A short-term inpatients multidisciplinary weight loss program could be the best choice for the management of obesity and its related comorbidities; on the contrary, if the follow-up is of long duration, the significance is not confirmed. The hospitalization at the beginning of any obesity treatment is significantly better than only outpatients treatment.