Medical Weight Management Prevents COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Weight Gain

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2021-12, Vol.29, p.124-125
• Main Authors: Crowley, William, Chan, Karina, Barenbaum, Sarah, Saunders, Katherine, Redmond, Ilana, Casper, Anthony, Hootman, Katie, Aronne, Louis, Shukla, Alpana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Drug therapy; Obesity; Overweight; Pandemics; Social distancing; Weight control
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals' eating and lifestyle habits with multiple studies reporting increases in weight. However, the impact of social distancing, stay-at-home policies, and COVID-19 illness on individuals with overweight and obesity who are medically managed for their weight remains unknown. Methods: 4882 adult patients who had been seen at a large urban weight management practice between May 1, 2019 and May 1, 2020 were identified via electronic health record query and invited to anonymously complete an electronic survey between February 23, 2021 and March 23, 2021 that included questions about demographics, weight, eating and lifestyle behaviors, and use of anti-obesity medications. Results: Of the 1006 survey respondents, 77% identified as female, 83.5% as white, 5.1% Hispanic, 4.4% Black, and 2.9% Asian. Median BMI at the beginning of the pandemic was 30.4 kg/m2; 13% of participants had normal BMI, 34% had overweight, and 53% had obesity. Anti-obesity pharmacotherapy was common (81%) and 28.9% reported an escalation of their medication regimen during the pandemic. The median weight change for patients taking anti-obesity pharmacotherapy was -1 lbs (-0.454%) compared to +5 lbs (+2.33%) for those not taking it (p < 0.001). Of the total cohort, 21% gained >5% body weight, 25% lost >5%, and 54% experienced