Jorgen Lous
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Title: Predictors for weight loss after patient-focused preventive consultations in general practice to overweight vulnerable young adults
Biography
Biography: Jorgen Lous
Abstract
Objective: Obesity and inequality in health is an increasing problem in Denmark. The objective was to evaluate the effect of structured well-prepared preventive consultations on weight loss in younger adults with over-weight and psycho-social problems.
Method: A total of 495 younger adults (20-44 years old) with several psycho-social and lifestyle problems were randomized to preventive health consultations or control at their own GP after completing a 23 pages questionnaire on different life style and psycho-social issues. All were randomized to intervention or control. A total of 218 had overweight or obesity.
Results: The 56 (26%) of the 218 were lost to follow-up after one year. The 77 with overweight in the control group were not asked about goals. The rest, 85 with overweight or obesity, were asked to prioritize one or two goals for a better life the next year. 22 had weight loss as the highest prioritized goal. One year after the first health consultation the 22 had a mean weight loss of 4.73 kg (95% Cl: 1.8 to 7.7) and the rest had lost 1.56 kg (-0.05 to 3.2). The over-weighty in the control group had a mean weight loss of 1.57 kg (0.12 to 3.0). In a logistic regression model the degree of overweight, consideration of a quick weight loss (within 30 days) at inclusion in the study, weight loss a high prioritized goal at the preventive consultation, having many problems, being a female, and being in the oldest half of the participants were predictors for weight loss.
Conclusion: A significant change in weight loss could be obtained with well-prepared patient-focused consultations. Predictors for weight loss (yes/no) after 1 year in logistic regression model (n=159).