Obesity Medicine Intervention at an Academic Medical Center in a Resource-Limited Population Shows Promise.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity disproportionately affects some non-White and low-socioeconomic-status Americans. Medical obesity treatment includes aggressive lifestyle interventions with medications when applicable. We evaluated a physician-led, resource-limited obesity medicine program.

METHODS: This retrospective review included 98 adults with BMI >30 completing three or more obesity medicine physician visits, without bariatric surgery before or during Oct 2019-Feb 2022 at an academic medical center in Newark, N.J. Outcomes included changes in weight, HbA1c, blood pressure, and lipids.

RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent (68%) of patients lost weight, with one-third losing 5% or more of total weight. Almost 30% (29.3%) gained and 2.4% maintained weight. Number of visits (p<.01) and GLP-1 receptor agonist use predicted weight loss (p<.05). Hemoglobin A1c decreased (p<.01); blood pressure and lipids did not.

CONCLUSION: Our study shows that medical weight management programs can achieve meaningful weight loss, despite resource limitations. Patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists lost more weight compared with other agents, even on suboptimal doses.