Data collection
This was a retrospective cohort study analyzing data from the electronic
medical records of all patients who attended this program from October
1, 2018 to January 31, 2021. The inclusion criteria included age 18
years and older, BMI = or >30, and at least one valid
follow-up visit in the program. Exclusion criteria patients younger than
18, BMI<30, only baseline visit or no valid follow-up visits
in the program. The study was approved by the University of Connecticut
Internal Review Board.
Outcomes: 5% or 10% weight reduction was calculated based on the time
for the first and the last valid visits.
Explanatory variables: A valid follow-up visit was defined as a
follow-up visit within 90 days after a first visit. The visits were
considered as new visits if they were outside this consecutive 90-day
period. Patient’s longest, continuous visits where were less than 90
days between visits) was used to calculate for the number of valid
visits, which was then categorized into 2-3, 4-5, and 5+ visits. In
addition, the secondary outcome was the continuous days a patient stayed
in the program.
Other covariates include age, gender, comorbidities (listed above), and
medications (listed above) were assessed and documented at each visit
and included in the analysis. Hemoglobin A1c was obtained when
available.