Abstracts / Posters
Optimal Consultation Rate to Maximise Weight Loss in Primary Care: The Counterweight Project
Obesity research Volume 12, October 2004 Supplements to the NAASO 2004 Annual meeting November 14 – 18, ref 166-p
The Counterweight Project Team
Aims: To determine the optimal number of consultations for weight management in the UK primary care setting.
Methods: Eighty primary care practices from 7 areas of the UK were recruited into the Counterweight programme. Recruitment of patients with a BMI of ≥ 30 or ≥ 28 with co-morbidities was opportunistic. At the time of submission 1540 patients had enrolled, 262 have attended the minimum of 4 appointments in the first three months. Patients were advised to attend their primary care centre on 10 occasions in 12 months, this was not enforced.
Results: Mean weight loss for the 262 patients at 12 months was 4.6kg. Patients attending 4-10 consultations in 12 months achieved a mean weight loss (MWL) of 3.1 kg (n=129); 1115 consultations MWL of 5.2 kg, (n=68); 16-20 consultations MWL of 6.3 kg (n= 26); >20 consultations MWL of 7.1 kg (n=39). There was a significant difference in mean weight loss at 12 months between 4-10 and >20 consultations groups (p<0.01).
Percentage of patients achieving ≥ 5% weight loss at 12 months in the 4-10; 11-15; 16-20 and >20 consultation groups was 31%, 51%, 42% and 56% respectively. Odds ratio (OR) shows significance between 4-10 vs 11-15 and >20, (OR 2.28 and 2.78 respectively). The difference between 11-15 vs 16-20 or >20 was not significant.
Conclusions: Eleven to 15 consultations in 12 months achieved the optimal weight loss outcome in this UK primary care setting.