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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Galit M. Sacajiu, MD MPH¹, Menford A. Wright, MD², Judith Arnoux, BA³, and Crystal Query, BA³. (1) Department of Social and Family Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 3544 Jerome Ave, Bronx, NY 10467, 718-9205521, gsacajiu@montefiore.org, (2) Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 305 East 161st street, Bronx, NY 10457, (3) Department of Social and Family Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 3544 Jerome Ave, Bronx, NY 10467

The obesity epidemic is at the epicenter of health inequality. Despite obesity complications, it is hard to find effective, affordable weight loss programs. Coverage for obesity treatment is mainly surgical intervention and pharmacotherapy. The goal of the following was to introduce a weight reduction intervention to an underserved community incorporating relevant cultural ideas surrounding food rituals and body image. We developed collaboration among community health center, a commercially available weight loss program and a Managed Care company. The weight loss program was integrated into patients' ongoing health care. Outcomes measures included weight loss, blood pressure, lipid profile, adherence to intervention, quality of life, health related locus of control, and self perceived body image. 152 patients consented to participate and came for the first intervention meeting. Of those 86 (57%) continued and adhere to the program. The participants were 90% women, 46% Blacks, 46% Latino, and 70% US born. An average of 9.7 lb was lost. Other clinical outcomes are still being collected. Higher quality of life and health related internal locus of control were statistically significant among adherent participants compared to baseline. Self perceived body image showed a trend of change. We described a culturally sensitive, integrated weight reduction intervention in an underserved community health center. Our results suggest that obese patients who are committed to changing their eating habits will adhere to a financially affordable weight loss program. It also calls for advocacy towards legislations requiring commercial health insurance to fund new preventive and therapeutic weight reduction programs.

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