Interdisciplinary Weight Management in a Safety‐Net Health System: A Pilot Implementation Study
Courtney DeCan, Katie Thure, Nat Pedley, Brett Cervantes, Osbaldo Camargo, Karina Fing Castro, Jacqueline Cabral, Michelle Gallardo, Dailyn Rodriguez Reyes, Alejandra Perez, Stephanie Young, Arash Nafisi, Soma WaliABSTRACT
Objective
Despite the high prevalence of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases in safety‐net populations, access to intensive, evidence‐based lifestyle interventions and scalable implementation strategies remains limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of an interdisciplinary program in an urban safety‐net health system.
Methods
This single‐center, mixed‐methods implementation evaluation assessed LA VIDA, a 6‐month interdisciplinary weight management program for medically complex individuals. Outcomes included feasibility, patient engagement, self‐rated health, quality of life, physical activity, dietary behaviors, and program satisfaction.
Results
Over 2 years, 95 participants completed the program. They were predominantly female (72.6%) and Latino (78.9%), with a mean age of 50 years, median BMI of 39.2 (IQR: 36.9 to 43.7), and 60% having ≥ 3 comorbidities. Median 6‐month weight loss was 5.5% (IQR: −2.6% to −9.9%), with significant improvements in quality of life ( p = 0.0003), physical health ( p < 0.0001), moderate‐intensity physical activity ( p < 0.001), and dietary behaviors. Participants reported high satisfaction driven by personalized guidance, increased health knowledge, mindfulness, and the supportive group environment.
Conclusions
LA VIDA was feasible and acceptable and improved patient‐reported behaviors and outcomes in a safety‐net setting. These findings support it as an effective model for integrated obesity care that combines lifestyle, behavioral, and pharmacologic treatment in the safety net.