Commercial Weight Loss Programs in the Management of Obesity: an Update

Laudenslager, Marci; Chaudhry, Zoobia W; Rajagopal, Selvi; Clynes, Sasha; Gudzune, Kimberly A.

doi:10.1007/s13679-021-00428-y

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…However, BMI is reported to be under-recorded and weight loss interventions under-referred [ 23 ] in general practice. Weight management options are available through general practice, privately, through commercial avenues, or internet-based sources [ 19 , 24 , 25 ]. In NZ, primary care offers weight management advice via national guidelines [ 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding weight management experiences from patient perspectives: qualitative exploration in general practice

et al. 2023

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Background Obesity is a complex health issue affecting the quality of life of individuals and contributing to an unsustainable strain on healthcare professionals and national health systems. National policy guidelines indicate that general practice is best suited to deliver obesity healthcare, however, obesity rates continue to rise worldwide indicating interventions are ineffective in this space. The aim of this study was to explore the weight management experiences from patient perspectives. Methods This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 16 rural Waikato general practice patients. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Four themes were identified: Inconsistent Information, Significance of Holistic Factors, Obesity Centre Need, and Education. Participants expressed frustration at contradictory health messages, commercial company and ‘expert’ definition distrust, and that ‘holistic’ aspects to health significant to the weight management journey were unable to be addressed in general practice. Conclusion Whilst primary care is positioned as suitable for delivering obesity healthcare, this study found that participants do not perceive general practice to be equipped to deliver this care. Instead, participants argued for a specialist obesity centre capable of meeting all their obesity healthcare needs. Further, wider issues including on-line commodification of health and neo-liberal capitalism - factors that exploit people with a stigmatised health issue - can cause further harm to the participant. A radical modernisation of education, information, and resources from regulated, qualified and ‘trusted’ healthcare professionals who can provide safe, non-stigmatising supportive services is recommended to meet the unique and changing food climate, reduce obesity rates and improve health outcomes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding weight management experiences from patient perspectives: qualitative exploration in general practice

et al. 2023

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“…One internationally available weight management program (WW, formerly Weight Watchers) that meets USPSTF criteria and has clear evidence to support its efficacy in safely achieving sustained, modest weight losses 7 , 8 , 9 also has the most randomized clinical trials evaluating its efficacy 7 and the most cost-effective nonsurgical treatment for obesity. 10 , 11 Despite a body of published research, most studies of this commercial program were conducted in a single country, 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 used usual care or active treatments as controls, 13 , 14 , 16 and were conducted more than 10 years ago.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of a Commercial Weight Management Program Compared With a Do-It-Yourself Approach

et al. 2022

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Key Points Question What is the efficacy at 3 and 12 months of a widely available commercial weight management program compared with a do-it-yourself approach? Findings In this 3-country randomized clinical trial that included 373 adults, reductions in weight were significantly greater at both 3 and 12 months for participants in the commercial weight management program, which included reduced requirements for dietary self-monitoring, than for participants using the do-it-yourself approach. Meaning This randomized clinical trial found that a commercial weight management program with reduced dietary self-monitoring produced clinically significant weight loss and may partially address the need for evidence-based approaches beyond the clinic setting.

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“…IGB placement and commercial weight loss programs such as OPT have gained significant popularity and attraction over the last years, especially for the treatment of individuals with a BMI between 30 and 40 kg/m 2 , with various publications demonstrating both to be effective and safe [ 13 , 32 ]. To date, however, there have been no studies comparing the outcomes of these two nonsurgical weight loss procedures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy and Safety of Intragastric Balloon Therapy Compared to a Multidisciplinary Weight Loss Program (OPTIFAST) in a Real-World Population: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

et al. 2022

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Introduction: Obesity is a major global health problem associated with comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Bariatric surgery is recognized to be the most effective weight loss intervention, but it is highly invasive, costly and can have serious side effects. Intragastric balloon placement by endoscopy and hypocaloric diets are among a number of techniques that have been used in patients unsuitable for or unwilling to undergo obesity surgery. In this study, we compared the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of the hypocaloric OPTIFAST program (OPT) with endoscopic intragastric balloon (IGB) placement for weight loss. Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort propensity score-weighted comparison (performed May 2014 to December 2020), participants with a BMI of 30-55 kg/m2, aged 18 to 70 years, were randomized to OPT or IGB for 26 weeks, followed by a weight maintenance phase. Patients were matched according to age, gender and BMI. The study outcomes were percentage excess body weight lost (%EBWL), total body weight lost (TBWL), and percentage total body weight lost (%TBWL). Results: A total of 148 participants (75% of those randomized; 74 OPT, 74 IGB) made up the ITT population. Mean age was 44.1 ± 10.4 years and the patients were predominantly female (77%). Baseline BMI was 44.1 ± 10.4kg/m2. At 26 weeks, %TBWL in the OPT group was 19.6 ± 6.8% versus 11.9 ± 6.7% for IGB (P<0.001). At 52 weeks, %TBWL for OPT was 18.2 ± 9.0 % versus 12.0 ± 6.6% for IGB (P<0.001). The OPT cohort also experienced significantly fewer adverse events compared with the IGB group. Conclusion: IGB placement and OPT induce clinically meaningful weight loss. However, OPT appears to induce clinically superior weight loss and has economic advantages through lower rates of complications and adverse events.

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Commercial Weight Loss Programs in the Management of Obesity: an Update

Cited by 12 publications

References 45 publications

Understanding weight management experiences from patient perspectives: qualitative exploration in general practice

Understanding weight management experiences from patient perspectives: qualitative exploration in general practice

Efficacy of a Commercial Weight Management Program Compared With a Do-It-Yourself Approach

Efficacy and Safety of Intragastric Balloon Therapy Compared to a Multidisciplinary Weight Loss Program (OPTIFAST) in a Real-World Population: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

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