Patient Contact and Weight Loss

Past research has found that patients enrolled in weight-management programs experience greater success as the frequency they meet with physicians or weight-loss counselors about their progress increases. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, an organization that recommends guidelines for primary care in the U.S, classifies two provider contacts with patients as intensive. A study by NiCole Keith, associate professor in the Department of Physical Education at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, found that this current recommendation may not be intensive enough for low-income and disadvantaged populations.

Her study was conducted in an urban community health center in Indianapolis that primarily serves low-income and disadvantaged populations. The weight-management program, Take Charge Lite (TCL), was free to patients, funded by the Fairbanks Foundation and available to all patients 18 or older with a body mass index indicating they could be overweight or obese — equal to or above 25. The program was developed for English or Spanish-speaking patients and used input from physicians, administrators and patients of the clinic. If patients qualified, their physician gave them information about TCL and the program coach’s contact information. Once a patient phoned, a first visit was arranged at which the patient chose goals, weighed-in, and discussed different weight-loss strategies with the coach. Program participants could attend support groups, education or exercise classes, meet face-to-face with coaches, or have regular weigh-ins. Each of these activities qualified as a contact.

At the end of the program’s first year, the relationship between weight loss and number of contacts was evaluated. Patients with two or fewer contacts per month gained about a pound. Patients with three or four contacts per month lost about two pounds of weight and patients who had five contacts per month lost just over two pounds. Those with six or more contacts lost about five pounds and patients with more than 11 contacts per month lost about six pounds. Keith said the program will continue and that she’s optimistic about its impact. “TCL coaches helped patients find strategies tailored to patient needs and abilities to help with weight loss,” she said. “Indentifying factors associated with weight loss and program participation may improve weight loss services, maximize contact and lead to increased weight loss in this population.”

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