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. 2017 Apr;32(Suppl 1):79-82.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-016-3948-z.

A System-Level Approach to Overweight and Obesity in the Veterans Health Administration

Susan D Raffa  1 , Matthew L Maciejewski  2   3 , Lindsey E Zimmerman  4 , Laura J Damschroder  5 , Paul A Estabrooks  6 , Ronald T Ackermann  7 , Adam G Tsai  8   9 , Trina Histon  8 , Michael G Goldstein  10
Affiliations

A System-Level Approach to Overweight and Obesity in the Veterans Health Administration

Susan D Raffa et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Healthcare systems are challenged by steady increases in the number of patients who are overweight and obese. Large-scale, evidence-based behavioral approaches for addressing overweight and obesity have been successfully implemented in systems such as the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). These population-based interventions target reduction in risk for obesity-associated conditions through lifestyle change and weight loss, and are associated with modest weight loss. Despite the fact that VHA has increased the overall reach of these behavioral interventions, the number of high-risk overweight and obese patients continues to rise. Recommendations for weight loss medications and bariatric surgery are included in clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity, but these interventions are underutilized. During a recent state of the art conference on weight management held by VHA, subject matter experts identified challenges and gaps, as well as potential solutions and overarching policy recommendations, for implementing an integrated system-wide approach for improving population-based weight management.

Keywords: obesity; population health; veterans; weight management.

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Conflict of interest statement

Funders

The state of the art conference was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D). Dr. Maciejewski received support from VA HSR&D for a Research Career Scientist Award (RCS 10–391). Ms. Damschroder received support from VA HSR&D Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (VA QUE 15–286).

Prior Presentations

None

Conflict of Interest

Adam Tsai has received honoraria from Vindico Medical Education and Med-IQ. All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, or the US Government.

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