Developing a Weight Management Program in a Community Setting

Abstract

Background:

Managing body weight is important for a patient's overall well-being. Developing a weight management program for patients is a basis for providing structure and assistance to patients who may not understand what is necessary to achieve a healthy body weight.

Objective:

To describe implementation of a pharmacist-run weight management program in a community pharmacy.

Methods:

From July to December 2007, we created a weight management program which was implemented in January 2008 in a community pharmacy setting by utilizing nutritional information readily available online, purchasing commercially available weight management machines, and offering counseling sessions.

Results:

Preliminary results show that patients have been able to decrease their weight with the assistance of this pharmacist-run program.

Conclusions:

A community pharmacy-based weight management program can assist patients in decreasing their total body weight and give pharmacists an opportunity to be involved in managing obesity.