Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Comprehensive Care Program for People Living with Obesity: A Real-World Experience in a Public Hospital in Mexico

• Published in: Obesity facts 2022-11, Vol.15 (6), p.774-786
• Main Authors: Vázquez-Velázquez, Verónica, García García, Eduardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arthritis; Behavior; Body composition; Body mass index; Chronic illnesses; Coronaviruses; Diabetes; Disease; Eating disorders; Exercise; Feasibility Studies; Gastrointestinal surgery; Hospitals; Hospitals, Public; Humans; Intervention; Mexico; Nutrition research; Nutritionists; Obesity; Obesity - therapy; Osteoarthritis; Patients; Psychiatrists; Psychologists; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Research Article; Retrospective Studies; Social support; Weight control; Weight Loss; Weight Reduction Programs
• ISSN: 1662-4025; 1662-4033
• DOI: 10.1159/000527024

Introduction: Existing evidence indicates that the best treatment model for obesity leading to successful weight loss consists of a so-called comprehensive lifestyle intervention program, but the offer, implementation, and coverage of these kinds of programs for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of people living with obesity are limited. So, the aim of this study was an evaluation of the feasibility and effectiveness of a comprehensive care program for obesity in a public tertiary hospital in Mexico. Methods: An observational, longitudinal, and retrospective study evaluated a six-month long medium-intensity comprehensive care program (seven visits focused on medical, nutritional, psychological, and psychiatric diagnosis and treatment). A total of 1,017 people living with obesity were recruited for the program. Logistic regression models were used to predict the factors associated with attendance and weight loss. Results: Of the 1,017 participants, 661 completed the program (65% retention rate) and attended 4.9 ± 1.9 visits each, with 40.1% losing ≥5% of their starting weight (X = 4.3 ± 4.4%). From visit 1 to visit 7, the participants that completed the program had weight decreases of Δ = −4.8 kg and body mass index (BMI) −2.3 kg/m 2 ; p < 0.01. Each additional visit increased the likelihood of a 5% weight loss [OR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.51–2.38, p < 0.001] and 10% [OR 2.45, 95% CI: 1.49–4.02, p < 0.001], becoming statistically significant after attending more than four visits. Each additional year of age increased the likelihood of losing ≥5% body weight [OR 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03, p < 0.05] and increased the likelihood of completing the program [OR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.03, p < 0.01] after controlling for sex, weight, BMI, and psychiatric and weight loss medications. Discussion/Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of a six-month comprehensive program for obesity in a public hospital in Mexico.