by A novel weight management program, the Weight Navigation Program (WNP), launched at the University of Michigan’s academic medical center, Michigan Medicine, has shown promising results in increasing the adoption of evidence-based treatments and promoting more substantial weight loss among high-risk patients, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open.
Primary care clinics often face challenges in helping patients develop effective weight management plans during brief visits. Previous research conducted at the University of Michigan revealed that most primary care patients with obesity fail to lose the recommended 5% of their body weight, a goal linked to reduced obesity-related health risks.
To address this issue, Michigan Medicine introduced the WNP, which combines the efforts of patients, primary care providers, and board-certified obesity specialists.
The study, led by Dina Hafez Griauzde, M.D., M.Sc., an internal medicine assistant professor at the U-M Medical School, and Andrew Kraftson, M.D., an endocrinologist specializing in obesity medicine, evaluated the outcomes of the first year of the program.
Patients enrolled in the WNP lost an average of 12 pounds, or approximately 4.4% of their body weight, in the year following their individualized obesity treatment plan consultation with an obesity specialist. In contrast, patients with similar profiles attending a U-M primary care clinic without the WNP saw minimal weight loss.
The average starting BMI for both groups was around 40 kg/m2. To be eligible for the WNP, patients had to have a BMI above 30 kg/m2 and at least one weight-related health condition, such as high Blood pressure, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.
More than 40% of WNP patients lost at least 5% of their body weight, while less than 20% of similar patients without the WNP achieved the same milestone. Additionally, 22% of patients in the WNP lost at least 10% of their body weight, compared to less than 4% of similar patients.
The authors emphasized the need for further investigation into the WNP approach through larger clinical trials.
Currently, the WNP is accessible to all eligible adult patients receiving primary care through U-M Health clinics, serving as a gateway to various weight management treatment options. The program is part of a broader range of weight management programs available by referral across multiple areas of U-M Health.
“Our findings suggest that integrating obesity specialists into primary care settings can be an effective strategy for delivering safe and evidence-based obesity care to a larger population,” said Dr. Griauzde. “By having an obesity specialist collaborate with primary care providers to evaluate patients, help them understand their options, and act as a gateway to specialized care and primary care follow-up, we hope this model will be adopted by other healthcare systems.”
Despite the growing need for obesity specialists, their shortage necessitates programs like the WNP to expand their reach.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
