Building a Medical–Surgical Obesity Center: Updates and Quality Outcomes After Five Years

Abstract

Background:

WVU Medicine’s Medical Weight Management (MWM) partnered with Bariatric Surgery in 2019 to provide comprehensive obesity care to West Virginia and the surrounding region.

Methods:

A retrospective review of quality outcomes was conducted using the electronic medical record (EMR). Medications and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk reduction were compared with non-MWM cohorts.

Results:

MWM saw over 4000 new patients through December 2023. Total visits increased by 59%, and new patient visits by 37% in 2023 from 2022. Most patients were commercially insured (62.8%) and identified as female (81%) and Caucasian (93%). The average age was 47 ± 13 years. The average body mass index was 39.9 kg/m². Sixty-two percent were prescribed antiobesity medications (AOMs). Patients who followed MWM for at least 1 year achieved 12.4% average weight loss. Patients with AOM prescriptions and insurance that covered AOMs had more weight loss. Return MWM patients had a 3% reduced ASCVD risk score while primary care patient scores remained unchanged.

Conclusions:

The medical component of our comprehensive obesity center is in demand and demonstrated significant weight loss and improved health as measured by ASCVD risk. Challenges and future directions are described. Our data represent real-world obesity treatment results using quality metrics that are easily obtained and followed through an EMR.