Primary Care–Based Health Coaching Intervention for Weight Loss in Overweight/Obese Adults: A 2-Year Experience. Issue 4 (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sherman, Ryan P.; Petersen, Rebecca; Guarino, Anthony J.; Crocker, J. Benjamin
• Is Part Of: American journal of lifestyle medicine. Volume 13:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 405
• Page End: 413
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: obesity -- health coaching -- weight loss -- primary care -- telephone -- telemedicine; Medicine, Preventive -- Periodicals; Lifestyles -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1177/1559827617715218
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1559-8276

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a major contributor to medical comorbidity and places a large economic burden on health care. This study examined the effectiveness of primary care–integrated health coaching for weight loss in overweight/obese patients. Participants/Methods: This observational clinical study with a retrospective comparison analysis was performed at an urban academic primary care practice. A total of 271 individuals with a BMI >25 kg/m 2 were recruited and followed for 2 years. A standardized health coaching intervention was used to promote weight loss. The main outcome measures were weight loss as a percentage of initial body weight and proportion of patients with weight loss ≥5% initial body weight, controlling for relevant covariates. An activity-based cost assessment of health coaching for weight loss was also performed. Results: Health coaching was associated with a mean loss of 7.24% initial weight after 12 months (95% CI = 8.68 to 5.90) and 6.77% after 24 months (95% CI = 8.78 to 4.76). Coached patients were more likely to achieve ≥5% of initial weight loss at both 12 and 24 months (P < .001). Health coaching costs were $288.54 per participant over 1 year. Conclusions: Primary care–integrated health coaching was associated with statistically significant weight loss in overweight and obese adults.