title: Outcomes from a medical weight loss program: primary care clinics versus weight loss clinics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have focused on weight loss programs implemented in community-based primary care settings. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of a weight loss program and determine whether physicians in primary care practices could achieve reductions in body weight and body fat similar to those obtained in weight loss clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analyses were performed on chart review data from 413 obese participants who underwent weight loss at a primary care (n=234) or weight loss (n=179) clinic. Participants received physician-guided behavioral modification sessions and self-selected a diet plan partially or fully supplemented by meal replacements. A repeated-measures analysis of covariance was conducted with age and sex serving as covariates; significance was set at P≤.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 178 subjects (43%) completing 12 weeks of the program, primary care clinics were as effective as weight loss clinics at achieving reductions in body weight (12.4 vs 12.1 kg) but better with regard to reduction in body fat percentage (3.8% vs 2.7%; P≤.05). Regardless of location, participants completing 12 weeks lost an average of 11.1% of their body weight. Participants selecting full meal replacement had greater reductions in weight and body fat percentage (12.7 kg, 3.5%) compared with participants selecting a partial meal replacement plan (8.3 kg, 2.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary care physicians can successfully manage and treat obese patients using behavioral modification techniques coupled with meal replacement diets.
authors.affiliation: Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazorick
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends