Hospital intervention may help obese patients lose weight

A weight loss intervention for obese patients initiated in a hospital achieved meaningful clinical outcomes, according to research presented at the Society of Hospital Medicine Annual Meeting.

"Obesity affects a large majority of the U.S. population, and hospitalizations may represent opportunities to intervene and promote weight loss," Che M. Harris, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote in an abstract.

The researchers conducted a feasibility study of 53 obese patients who either received the hospital intervention along with text messages and follow-up primary care or did not receive any intervention. Harris and colleagues analyzed patient weight data via electronic medical records.

Results showed that the control group had an average weight gain of 0.023 kg at 1 month and 0.201 kg at 6 months after discharge, while the intervention group lost 1.31 kg at 1 month and 3 kg at 6 months (P = .03).

The researchers also reported that five of the 25 obese patients in the intervention group had obesity documented in their file prior to hospitalization; after hospitalization, this number increased to 13 (P = .018).

"Implementation of an inpatient weight loss program was feasible," Harris and colleagues concluded. "Being in the hospital represents a teachable time when reflection occurs such that dietary and fitness weight loss counseling during their stay, supplemented with post discharge follow up through text messages and engagement of their PCPs may be impactful. The initial and progressive weight loss provides a meaningful objective clinical outcome." – by Chelsea Frajerman Pardes

Disclosures: Healio Internal Medicine could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.

Reference:

Harris CM, et al. Abstract 114. Presented at: Society for Hospital Medicine Annual Meeting; March 6-9, 2016; San Diego.