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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
05:10
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Shared medical appointments: promoting weight loss in a clinical setting
Latha P Palaniappan1, Amy L Muzaffar, Elsie J Wang
1Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute, Health Policy Research, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA. lathap@pamfri.org
Summary
Shared medical appointments (SMAs) effectively promote weight loss in outpatient settings. Patients attending SMAs lost 1.0% of their baseline weight, while the comparison group gained 0.8%.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Medicine
- Health Services Research
- Obesity Management
Background:
- Shared medical appointments (SMAs) are group sessions for patients with similar health concerns, incorporating health education.
- The efficacy of SMAs for weight management in outpatient settings remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of weight-loss focused Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) in an outpatient clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- A comparative analysis was conducted on patients attending weight-loss SMAs (n=74) versus those in traditional office visits (n=356) with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m².
- SMA content was based on Diabetes Prevention Program materials.
Main Results:
- SMA participants achieved an average weight loss of 1.0% of their baseline weight.
- In contrast, the comparison group experienced an average weight gain of 0.8% of their baseline weight.
- The SMA group comprised a higher proportion of women (76% vs. 64%) and were older on average.
Conclusions:
- Shared medical appointments (SMAs) present a viable clinical strategy for facilitating patient weight loss.
- SMAs may serve as an effective tool for healthcare providers aiming to improve weight management outcomes.
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