Effect of Follow-Up Visit Frequencies on Weight Lost: A Historical Cohort Study

Abstract

Aim/Background: Obesity is an important problem facing healthcare givers. Obesity care requires a comprehensive approach including diet, exercise, frequent visits and counseling. Guidelines recommend frequent follow-up visits in the first three months. However, some patients fail to attend regularly. This study was intended to examine differences in body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) after weight loss among overweight subjects with regular and irregular follow-up attendance. Methods: We designed a historical cohort study involving patients with BMI of ≥ 25 kg/m². Decreases in BMI and BFP between regular follow-up and irregular follow-up groups were evaluated at the end of three months.  Results: 186 patients, 156 women (83.9%) and 30 men (16.1%), with a mean age of 37.8 ± 12.0 years, met the inclusion criteria. One hundred twenty-seven patients (68.3%) attended regular follow-ups and 59 patients (31.7%) attended irregularly. Significant differences were found in BMI and fat percentages between the first visit and at the end of the 3rd month in both groups (p<0.001). The differences in the decreases in BMI and BFP between the two groups were significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Statistically significant differences were found between the regular and irregular follow-up groups in terms of decreases in BMI and fat percentages. Although regular follow-up of obese patients is recommended, even patients attending only irregularly can achieve significant weight loss.

 

Amaç: Obezite sağlık hizmeti verenlerin karşılaştığı önemli bir sorundur. Obezite bakımı; diyet, egzersiz, sık izlem ve danışmanlığı içeren kapsamlı bir yaklaşım gerektirir. Kılavuzlar ilk üç ayda sık takip ziyaretleri yapılmasını önermektedir. Ancak, bazı hastalar takiplere düzenli olarak katılamamaktadır. Bu çalışma, düzenli ve düzensiz izlem sıklığına sahip olan fazla kilolu bireyler arasında, kilo verdikten sonra beden kitle indeksi (BKİ) ve vücut yağ yüzdesi (BFP) arasındaki farkları incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: BKİ ≥ 25 kg / m² olan hastaları içeren bir retrospektif kohort çalışması tasarladık. Düzenli ve düzensiz takip grupları arasında, BKİ ve BFP' de düşüş, üç ayın sonunda değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Dahil etme kritelerini karşılayan 186 hastanın, 156’sı kadın (% 83,9) ve 30’u erkek (% 16,1), yaş ortalaması 37,8 ± 12,0 yıl idi. Takiplere 127 hasta (% 68,3) düzenli, 59 hasta (% 31,7) düzensiz olarak katılmıştı. Her iki grupta da ilk ziyaret ve 3. ay sonunda BKİ ve yağ yüzdelerinde anlamlı farklılıklar gözlendi (p <0,001). İki grup arasında BKİ ve BFP'deki azalmadaki farklar anlamlıydı (p <0,001). Sonuç: Düzenli ve düzensiz takip grupları arasında BKİ'deki ve yağ yüzdeleri açısından azalmalarda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılıklar gözlendi. Her ne kadar obez hastaların düzenli olarak izlenmesi önerilse de, düzensiz takipli hastalar bile anlamlı kilo verebilirler.

Keywords

• Body fat distribution,body mass index,electric impedance,obesity,overweight

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