Kaiser Permanente's Comprehensive Approach to the Obesity Epidemic: Optimizing the Clinical Approach

In 2002, as a response to the increasing rates of overweight and obesity among its members and its communities, Kaiser Permanente (KP), through its Care Management Institute (KP-CMI), launched the Weight Management Initiative (WMI). The WMI is a comprehensive, multifaceted approach that emphasizes wellness with both prevention and treatment strategies. Using a public health approach, the initiative applies the principles of care management to address physical, social, environmental, and behavioral factors of overweight and obesity.

The initiative targets members across all ages and demographics, with four central clinical workstreams: preventing and treating obesity in children, primary prevention in adults, identification of high-risk adults, and bariatric surgery. In addition, the initiative encompasses community-based strategies to improve the built environment in a variety of settings (schools, worksites, and communities).

WMI has introduced and evaluated evidence-based clinical practice changes to support and increase wellness and prevention of overweight within the organization. Key elements of this initiative include BMI as a vital sign, physician training programs on counseling strategies, and point-of-care prompts in exam rooms.

KP has directed $2.4 million into the research and evaluation of eight new weight management programs to encourage innovation and implementation of programs that will reduce the long-term adverse health effects of overweight. The initiative focuses on children, adults, and the severely obese. Key aspects of the initiative and learnings on how to optimize the health care system to address obesity will be discussed.