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The lifestyle challenge program: a multidisciplinary approach to weight management
Margaret Malone1, Sharon A Alger-Mayer, Drew A Anderson
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Albany College of Pharmacy, NY 12208, USA. malonem@acp.edu
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|November 17, 2005
Summary
A multidisciplinary weight management program involving pharmacists successfully reduced patient weight and improved quality of life. This collaborative approach offers a model for effective obesity treatment in outpatient settings.
Area of Science:
- Obesity research
- Public health initiatives
- Pharmacist-led interventions
Background:
- Rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in the US.
- Limited inclusion of pharmacists in existing weight management programs despite public accessibility.
- Need for accessible and effective obesity management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a successful collaborative, multidisciplinary weight management program.
- To encourage adoption of similar patient management approaches by pharmacists and healthcare professionals.
- To highlight the role of pharmacists in obesity treatment.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of adult patients (>18 years) from an outpatient university setting.
- A 20-week program with weekly one-hour group sessions.
- Inclusion of diet, exercise, and behavior modification principles.
- Multidisciplinary team: nutrition physician, pharmacist, behavioral psychologist.
Main Results:
- 90 participants enrolled; 59 completed the program.
- Average weight reduction observed in completers over 20 weeks.
- Significant improvements in quality of life, binge-eating behavior, and depressive symptoms (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- The program represents a successful multidisciplinary model for managing overweight and obese patients.
- Effective in an outpatient hospital setting.
- Demonstrates the value of collaborative care in obesity management.