Daily Dose: Weight Loss Management in Primary Care

Patient Care brings primary care clinicians a lot of medical news every day—it’s easy to miss an important study. The Daily Dose provides a concise summary of one of the website's leading stories you may not have seen.

On November 3, 2022, we reviewed a study presented at ObesityWeek^® 2022, that examined current weight management services provided in primary care practice and factors associated with a higher reported provision of services.

The study

Researchers surveyed primary care clinicians in 18 health system practices throughout Colorado to assess the amount and type of weight loss assistance offered to patients. Clinicians were presented with a list of 19 weight management services, eg, identifying obesity, educating patients, prescribing medications.

Of the 397 surveys, investigators received 257 for a response rate of 65%. On average, clinicians reported performing 70% of the services listed. When the services were grouped into minimal, basic, and extensive types, clinicians on average performed 87%, 78%, and 69% of them, respectively.

Clinical implications

“Practice-associated factors such as culture and implementation climate may be worth examining to understanding how to implement weight management in primary care. These data add to the growing knowledge base about overcoming challenges to address obesity in the US.”

Click here for the full study review.