Linking care of patients with obesity to outpatient weight control clinics following acute hospitalizations

Abstract

Despite obesity impacting over one-third of US adults, guideline recommendations have not been effectively utilized by health care providers in hospital settings. Initiation of weight loss plans for obese patients during hospitalizations followed by linkage of care to weight control centers may improve compliance with the guidelines. Provider recognition and awareness that obesity is a chronic condition that warrants inpatient counsel and management with appropriate arrangement of postdischarge follow-up care will be critical to guideline implementation.

Keywords:

• guideline compliance
• health systems
• intervention
• linkage

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (1R25HL126145-01 – MPI-Dr. Bettina Beech, DrPH, MPH; Dean, Bower School of Population Health; The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA. Dr. Keith Norris, MD, PhD; Ronald Reagan University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA).

Author contributions

All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

Dr. Lawrence J Cheskin is a founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center and is Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of Medifast, Inc. The other authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.