Background: Obesity affects a large majority of the U.S. population, and hospitalizations may represent opportunities to intervene and promote weight loss. We sought to determine if multidisciplinary patient-centered inpatient weight loss consults, post-discharge telephone text messages, and primary care follow up could result in weight loss.
Methods: We conducted a feasibility study comparing 25 obese patients that had the intervention while in the hospital followed by text messages and collaboration with primary care provider (PCP) to 28 obese historical control patients that did not have such an intervention. We subsequently tracked patients’ weights and PCP documentation of obesity in their electronic medical records.
Results: On average, the intervention group lost 1.31 kg at one month, and 3.0 kg at 6 months. The chart reviewed historical control group had an average weight gain of 0.023 kg at one month, and 0.201 kg at 6 months post discharge (p= 0.03). In the intervention arm, five of 25 patient providers documented obesity in their clinic note one to three months prior to hospitalization. Post hospitalization, 13 of the 25 documented obesity in follow up clinic visit notes (p= 0.018).
Conclusions: Implementation of an inpatient weight loss program was feasible. Being in the hospital represents a teachable time when reflection occurs such that dietary and fitness weight loss counseling during their stay, supplemented with post discharge follow up through text messages and engagement of their PCPs may be impactful. The initial and progressive weight loss provides a meaningful objective clinical outcome.