Obesity (Silver Spring)

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a population-based telephonic wellness coaching program on weight loss.MethodsIndividual-level segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series data comparing the BMI trajectories in the 12 months before vs. the 12 months after initiating coaching among a cohort of Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) members (n=954) participating in The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) Wellness Coaching program in 2011. The control group was a 20:1 propensity-score matched control group (n=19,080) matched with coaching participants based on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics.ResultsWellness coaching participants had a significant upward trend in BMI in the 12 months before their first Wellness coaching session, and a significant downward trend in BMI in the 12 months after their first session equivalent to a clinically significant reduction of greater than one unit of baseline BMI (p<.01 for both). The control group did not have statistically significant decreases in BMI during the post-period.ConclusionsWellness coaching has a positive impact on BMI reduction that is both statistically and clinically significant. Future research and quality improvement efforts should focus on disseminating Wellness coaching for weight loss in diabetes patients and those at risk for developing the disease.20172018-02-01T00:00:00ZK01 DK099404/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United StatesL60 MD007402/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/United StatesP30 DK092924/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United StatesU58 DP002721/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States28124501PMC5300741vault:2128