ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To examine relationships between body mass index (BMI), prevalence of physician-recorded cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in primary care, and changes in risk with 10% weight change. METHODS: The Counterweight Project conducted a baseline cross-sectional survey of medical records of 6150 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)), 1150 age- and sex-matched overweight (BMI 25 to <30 kg/m(2)), and 1150 age- and sex-matched normal weight (BMI 18.5 to <25 kg/m(2)) controls, in primary care. Data were collected for the previous 18 months to examine BMI and disease prevalence, and then modelled to show the potential effect of 10% weight loss or gain on risk. RESULTS: Obese patients develop more CVD risk factors than normal weight controls. BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2) exhibits increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), odds ratio (OR) men: 6.16 (p < 0.001); women: 7.82 (p < 0.001) and hypertension OR men: 5.51 (p < 0.001); women: 4.16 (p < 0.001). Dyslipidaemia peaked around BMI 35 to <37.5 kg/m(2), OR men: 3.26 (p < 0.001); women 3.76 (p < 0.001) and CVD at BMI 37.5 to <40 kg/m(2) in men, OR 4.48 (p < 0.001) and BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2) in women, OR 3.98 (p < 0.001). A 10% weight loss from the sample mean of 32.5 kg/m(2) reduced the OR for type 2 DM by 30% and CVD by 20%, while 10% weight gain increased type 2 DM risk by more than 35% and CVD by 20%. CONCLUSION: Obesity plays a fundamental role in CVD risk, which is reduced with weight loss. Weight management intervention strategies should be a public health priority to reduce the burden of disease in the population.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To improve the management of obese adults (18-75 y) in primary care. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTINGS: UK primary care. SUBJECTS: Obese patients (body mass index > or =30 kg/m(2)) or BMI> or =28 kg/m(2) with obesity-related comorbidities in 80 general practices. INTERVENTION: The model consists of four phases: (1) audit and project development, (2) practice training and support, (3) nurse-led patient intervention, and (4) evaluation. The intervention programme used evidence-based pathways, which included strategies to empower clinicians and patients. Weight Management Advisers who are specialist obesity dietitians facilitated programme implementation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of practices trained and recruiting patients, and weight change at 12 months. RESULTS: By March 2004, 58 of the 62 (93.5%) intervention practices had been trained, 47 (75.8%) practices were active in implementing the model and 1549 patients had been recruited. At 12 months, 33% of patients achieved a clinically meaningful weight loss of 5% or more. A total of 49% of patients were classed as 'completers' in that they attended the requisite number of appointments in 3, 6 and 12 months. 'Completers' achieved more successful weight loss with 40% achieving a weight loss of 5% or more at 12 months. CONCLUSION: The Counterweight programme provides a promising model to improve the management of obesity in primary care.
