Increasing Participation in the Comprehensive Obesity Management Program

Abstract

Problem: Obesity is a pandemic in the United States, and it is directly linked to a higher incidence of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. A non-profit organization (NGO) in Montgomery County, Maryland, started a free obesity management program with four pillar services, which are: 1) medical consultations, 2) nutritional consultations, 3) laboratory services, and 4) yoga classes. The aim of the program is to provide effective obesity management with a multidisciplinary intervention approach. A streamlined team approach in healthcare is known to improve patients' overall health and contain medical costs. However, services provided at this NGO were fragmented, and providers were not working as a team. Purpose: To increase the enrollment of participants in the multidisciplinary comprehensive obesity management program by providing more structure, stability, and sustainability. Methods: The quality improvement project was implemented for 15 weeks during the fall of 2023. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 were encouraged to participate in the obesity management program. To ensure participation, each participant was given a program schedule form for dates of their service provision and a progress form to record weight, blood pressure, and lab results. Results: A total of 26 participants were recruited during the 15-week project improvement period. The mean age of participants was 54.65 (SD=14.92), and the mean BMI was 32.81 (SD=5.37). The majority of participants were female (69.23%). All participants were minorities (African American=15.38%, Hispanic=42.31%, Asian=42.31%). Almost half of the participants were hypertensive (46.15%), and many patients also had diabetes (diabetes=19.23%, pre-diabetes=11.54%). Conclusion: The number of participants in the comprehensive obesity management program steadily increased from zero to 26, and it has continued to attract more participants beyond the program improvement period. Many participants presented with co-morbidities and needed close followup. Therefore, it is recommended that the follow-up mechanism for the obesity program to be mainstreamed.