title: Feasibility of an interdisciplinary program for obesity management in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of a medically supervised, publicly funded interdisciplinary program for obesity management in a Canadian setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart audit using electronic medical records.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wharton Medical Clinic in Hamilton and Burlington, Ont.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2739 consenting patients attending the interdisciplinary obesity-management program at Wharton Medical Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three- and 6-month weight changes and factors affecting weight loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 1085 patients attending the clinic for at least 3 months (mean [SD] of 8.1 [6.1] visits and 5.4 [4.7] months) lost a mean (SD) of 4.2 (7.1) kg or 3.5% (6.8%) of their initial body weight, with 32% and 9% of these patients attaining weight reductions of 5% or greater and 10% or greater, respectively. The 289 patients attending the clinic for 6 months or more (mean [SD] of 13.2 [9.7] visits and 10.5 [6.9] months) lost a mean (SD) of 5.4 (10.6) kg or 4.3% (9.2%) of their initial body weight, with 47% and 17% attaining reductions of 5% or greater and 10% or greater, respectively. Visit frequency was positively associated with weight loss independent of age, sex, body mass index, and treatment duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary data support the short-term effectiveness and clinical utility of this publicly funded program. Using this interdisciplinary model, approximately half of patients were able to attain clinically significant weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Wharton Medical Clinic, Hamilton, Ont, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wharton
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: VanderLelie
authors.forename: Arya M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Saaqshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kuk
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D002170:Canada; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015431:Weight Loss