Background: We developed and tested a novel Weight Navigation Program (WNP). The WNP aims to (1) integrate American Board of Obesity Medicine Diplomates into primary care teams, (2) deliver preference-sensitive weight management treatment, and (3) optimize patients’ achievement of ≥5% weight loss through remote weight monitoring with proactive outreach to support patients with <5% weight loss.

Methods: This is a quality improvement program conducted at an academic primary care site from October 2020 to September 2021. WNP inclusion criteria are BMI ≥30 and ≥1 weight-related condition. Primary outcomes were measures of feasibility, including rates of referral to and engagement in the WNP. Secondary outcomes were mean weight loss and percentage of patients achieving ≥5% weight loss. We compared rates of referral to weight management treatment programs (i.e., nutrition counseling, meal replacement (MR), bariatric surgery) and prescribing of weight management medications (WMMs) among WNP-eligible patients at the pilot site and at a nearby clinic (control). Rates are also reported for patients with a completed WNP visit.

Results: Of 1,533 eligible patients, 238 (16%) were referred to the WNP and 135 (9%) completed a WNP visit. Mean percent weight change at 12-months for WNP patients was 5% and 39% achieved ≥5% weight loss. WNP-eligible patients at the WNP site (n=1,533) were referred to WMTs and prescribed WMMs at similar rates to WNP-eligible patients at the control site (n=2,913) (nutrition counseling 4.8% v. 6.8%, MR 1.0% v. 0.6%, WMM 2.0% v. 3.2%, bariatric surgery 1.2% vs. 1.8%). Patients with a completed WNP visit (n=135) received WMTs at substantially higher rates than the pilot and control sites (nutrition counseling 26.7%, MR 13.3%, WMM 11.9%, bariatric surgery 16.3%).

Discussion: A WNP is feasible and may support achievement of ≥5% weight loss. Additional work is needed to compare the efficacy of WNP vs usual care for weight loss.

Disclosure

D.H.Griauzde: None. A.T.Kraftson: None. C.D.Turner: None. J.Henderson: None. A.Othman: None. L.Oshman: Stock/Shareholder; Abbott, AbbVie Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and Company. J.Gabison: None. E.Walford: None. P.K.Arizaca-dileo: None. D.I.Beckius: None.

Funding

University of Michigan Elizabeth Weiser Caswell Diabetes Institute; Michigan Center for Diabetes and Translational Research (P30DK092926-09 to D.H.G.); National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K23DK123416-01A1 to D.H.G.)

© 2023 by the American Diabetes Association
2023
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