The impact of the number and frequency of visits on weight loss success in patients attending the obesity outpatient clinic

Abstract

Regular follow-up and the frequency of outpatient clinic visits are crucial factors in the management of obesity. This study aimed to assess the impact of the number and frequency of visits on weight loss outcomes in patients attending the obesity outpatient clinic. This was a 5-year retrospective observational study involving 1531 individuals aged 18 and older who had at least 2 visits to the Obesity Outpatient Clinic. Baseline, minimum, and final weight data blood lipid profiles, HOMA-IR, and body composition measurements (Tanita) were analyzed. Patients with chronic conditions affecting body mass index (e.g., heart or kidney disease, psychiatric eating disorders, pregnancy), as well as those with only 1 visit or incomplete records, were excluded. To reduce bias, only patients with regular follow-up for at least 3 months and a total follow-up period of 1 year or more were included. receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to identify cutoff values for the number of visits associated with ≥5% weight loss. The relationship between the number and frequency of visits and weight loss success was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic analysis. The mean baseline body mass index was 35.74 ± 6.66 kg/m². Of the patients, 16.26% did not lose any weight, 43.31% lost between 0% and 5%, 25.41% lost between 5% and 10%, 9.34% lost between 10% to 15%, and 5.68% lost more than 15% of their initial weight. A significant effect of the number and frequency of visits on weight loss success was observed. The threshold for the total number of visits was found to be 5.5 (AUC = 0.757, sensitivity = 55%, specificity = 82%), and for the annual frequency of visits, it was 1.46 (AUC = 0.721, sensitivity = 72%, specificity = 59%). These values were identified as the most accurate predictors of weight loss. A positive relationship was observed between the number of visits and weight loss; it was seen that the success rate increased as the frequency of visits increased. Frequent visits play a pivotal role in enhancing weight loss during obesity treatment. Regular follow-up may also be beneficial in maintaining the weight lost.