Diet and exercise just simply won't solve the problem of obesity in America.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (UPSTF), an independent panel of health specialists, believe people that want to shed weight and who are at a very high risk of experiencing heart problems should seek intensive health-related behavioral counseling.

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The group's recommendation, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine last August 26, is based on literature reviews of medical research and drafts that revolve around preventive care.

Within the literature are 74 studies of various lifestyle interventions which conclude that health conditions of individuals with weight problems improved in one to two years with behavioral counseling on diet and exercise.

Currently, cardiovascular disease claims one life every 33 seconds in the United States. If the pace were to continue, the illness will be the leading cause of death by the year 2020.

"It is a ground-breaking information that includes 25 years of rigorous research on helping patients with weight problem in regaining their shape and stay healthy, said Dr. Jennifer Lin, lead author and researcher from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research.

Through intensive lifestyle counseling, individuals are guided through proper eating habits and the required amount of physical activities they need to lose and maintain weight.

Counseling should be around five to 15 sessions with medical professionals, including doctors, dietitians, exercise specialists and fitness experts.

Sessions can be carried out by phone or via video chats in order for patients to understand their objectives, be educated on their health and help them monitor their progress.

The American Council on Exercise is in full support of USPSTF's recommendation.

"This is for the first time, an independent national recommending authority has named properly trained exercise professionals among the professions qualified to deliver behavior-change programming, which includes structured, supervised physical activity, as part of the healthcare system," said Natalie Digate Muth, ACE Healthcare Solutions Director.