Introduction
Weight loss is a significant health goal for many individuals, driven by the desire to improve overall well-being, manage medical conditions, and reduce risks associated with surgical procedures. The journey, however, is often fraught with challenges, making the availability of a solid support system crucial. Weight loss clubs and community-based programs offer a structured environment for individuals to receive the support, education, and resources necessary for successful and sustainable weight management. This article explores the multifaceted benefits of weight loss clubs for community health, drawing upon various research studies and program examples.
The Role of Weight Loss Clubs in Addressing Community Health Needs
Weight loss clubs play a vital role in addressing community health needs by providing a supportive environment where individuals can work towards achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. These clubs often incorporate various components such as nutritional education, physical activity guidance, and behavioral counseling to promote holistic well-being.
Addressing Cardiovascular Disease Risks
Cardiovascular diseases account for a substantial amount of preventable death which can be at least partially mitigated by changing modifiable behaviors and factors, including diet quality, physical activity, and weight. Weight loss clubs can be instrumental in reducing cardiovascular disease risks within communities. By promoting healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and weight management, these clubs help individuals mitigate risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and pre-diabetes. Interventions are needed at the population-level in order to have sustained impact on weight patterns and diet and physical activity behaviors among health disparity-facing groups.
Supporting Individuals with Specific Medical Conditions
Individuals may desire to lose weight for a variety of reasons including managing medical conditions, such as pre-diabetes, high blood pressure/cholesterol, sleep apnea, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and osteoarthritis. Weight loss clubs often cater to individuals with specific medical needs, providing tailored diet plans, ongoing support, and follow-up appointments. For example, a weight loss club might offer specialized programs for individuals with diabetes, focusing on blood sugar control through diet and exercise.
Providing Value-Added Services
As a Community Health Choice Member, individuals may be able to get extra benefits and services in addition to their regular STAR+PLUS Medicaid benefits. These are called Value-Added Services (VAS). These services, effective September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2025, may include meal services, such as home-delivered meals for one week after getting out of the hospital (7 meals) for STAR+PLUS non-HCBS Members. Nutrition Services access to a nutritionist to provide personalized and culturallysensitive education for dietary needs and weight management and/or loss, Free pill organizer, Free blanket for newly enrolled.
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Key Components of Effective Weight Loss Programs
Effective weight loss programs typically incorporate several key components that contribute to their success such as medical assessment, personalized diet plans, behavioral health support, and exercise guidance.
Medical Assessment and Individualized Plans
Patients receive a detailed medical history and assessment, diet plan, ongoing support and follow-up appointments tailored to their individual needs to help them achieve long-term wellness through healthy weight loss. Our physicians are specially trained in bariatric medicine for patients who seek non-surgical, medical weight loss solutions.
Behavioral Health Support
Support services provided by the behavioral health coach, exercise physiologist and dietitians are free. Behavioral counseling can help participants identify and modify unhealthy eating patterns, develop coping strategies for stress and emotional eating, and build motivation for long-term lifestyle changes.
Nutritional Guidance
Nutrition education is a cornerstone of weight loss programs. Participants learn about balanced diets, portion control, reading food labels, and making healthy food choices. Access to a nutritionist to provide personalized and culturally sensitive education for dietary needs and weight management and/or loss.
Exercise and Physical Activity
Weight loss clubs often include exercise physiologists who provide guidance on safe and effective physical activity. They help participants develop exercise routines that fit their fitness levels and preferences, promoting increased physical activity and overall well-being.
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The Role of Community Health Workers
Community health worker-led interventions may be an optimal approach to promote behavior change among populations with low incomes due to the community health workers’ unique insights into participants’ social and environmental contexts and potential ability to deliver interventions widely.
Feasibility Study in Public Housing
In 2016-2018, in Boston Massachusetts, a 3-month, two-group randomized trial comparing participants who received a tailored feedback report (control group) to participants who received the same report plus behavioral counseling. 102 participants enrolled; 8 (7.8%) were lost at 3-month follow up. Mean age was 46.5 (SD = 11.9) years; the majority were women (88%), Hispanic (67%), with ≤ high school degree (62%). For implementation, among intervention group participants (n = 50), 5 completed 0 sessions and 45 completed a mean of 4.6 (SD = 3.1) sessions. For acceptability, most indicated they would be very likely (79%) to participate again. For preliminary efficacy, adjusted linear regression models showed mean changes in weight (-0.94 kg, p = 0.31), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (+11.7 min/day, p = 0.14), and fruit/vegetable intake (+2.30 servings/day, p < 0.0001) in the intervention vs. control group.
Characteristics of Community Health Workers
A community health worker is: “a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served”. Peer support from community health workers may be a particularly useful way to promote weight management and other public health programs among residents of public housing because the community health worker shares important characteristics and life experiences with the targeted participants and are trusted health advisors within their communities. Community health workers are likely to have a good understanding of social contextual factors (e.g.; financial hardship, multiple family roles, access to resources) that have an impact on health behaviors and can incorporate them into intervention delivery. A systematic review indicated the majority of community health worker-led interventions examined demonstrated a positive impact on cardiovascular disease risk reduction; randomized trials of community health worker-led interventions have also demonstrated weight loss outcomes in particular.
Intervention Design and Delivery
In a two-group parallel randomized trial with an additive design, participants were randomized on a 1:1 basis to receive either 1) brief tailored feedback (control group) or 2) brief tailored feedback plus motivational interviewing-based counseling sessions delivered by community health workers (intervention group). The Social Contextual Model was the conceptual framework used to guide intervention delivery and evaluation, in which social contextual factors are incorporated into intervention design so that it is responsive to the needs of the target population.
Counseling Session Content
Counseling session content was informed by qualitative formative research in which participants discussed multi-level influences on their eating and physical activity behaviors using PhotoVoice. The site was designed to systematically lead community health workers through sections of a motivational interviewing counseling guide, and be flexible enough to allow them to use their own wording and expand on topics for natural conversation and rapport building.
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Text Messaging
Participants received three text messages per day to self-monitor adherence to recommendations for each of the three behavioral topics chosen (example: “Did you do brisk activity today for at least 10 min?”). Texts were in Spanish or English and were answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Family Healthy Weight Programs (FHWPs)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends family healthy weight programs (FHWPs) as multi-component behavioral interventions to help treat childhood obesity. FHWPs are comprehensive, family-based lifestyle change programs. They help children with overweight or obesity make progress toward a healthier weight through positive behavior changes. FHWPs are safe, effective treatments that are designed for children and their families or caregivers. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Psychological Association, recommend FHWPs to help treat childhood obesity. Improved parental stress, self-efficacy, and quality of life. CDC-recognized FHWPs meet the screening criteria below. The programs are packaged to be ready-to-use and intended for rapid dissemination. They can be used in health care, community, or public health settings. CDC-recognized family healthy weight programs meet AAP's recommendation for dose and intensity to provide 26 or more contact hours over 3 to 12 months.
Examples of CDC-Recognized FHWPs
- Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do It! (MEND): For families with children aged 2 to 13 years who have overweight or obesity. MEND combines physical activity, healthy eating, and behavior change to encourage safe, effective weight management and lasting lifestyle changes.
- Healthy Weight and Your Child: For families with children aged 7 to 13 years who have obesity. The curriculum for Healthy Weight and Your Child is adapted from MEND and implemented at participating YMCA locations. The program engages children and adults in nutrition education and physical activity to elicit positive change and to help families learn skills for healthier lifestyles.
- Smart Moves: For families with children aged 7 to 18 years who have overweight or obesity. Smart Moves combines nutrition education, behavior modification, physical activity, and parental/caregiver support. The goals are to nurture children's self-esteem and healthful behaviors while improving body mass index, body composition, and insulin resistance. The 12-week program includes two 45-minute exercise sessions and one 40-minute nutrition or behavior modification session weekly.
- Healthy Weight Clinic: For families with children and young adults aged 2 to 20 years who have overweight or obesity. Healthy Weight Clinic is conducted in the primary care setting. It focuses on achieving positive behavior change, setting goals, managing obesity-related conditions, and linking families to community resources.
- Family-Based Treatment (FBT): For families with children aged 2 to 18 years who have overweight or obesity. FBT emphasizes healthy eating, physical activity, and positive parenting. The goal is to empower families to practice new behaviors in a variety of settings to sustain healthy changes. FBT can occur in person or virtually, in a group setting, and through individual sessions with the child and parent or caregiver.
- Building Healthy Families: For families with children aged 6 to 12 years who have obesity. Building Healthy Families is tailored for people living in areas with less than 50,000 residents. Building Healthy Families works with families, especially children, to identify healthier food choices, modify unhealthy behaviors, and increase physical activity.
Additional Benefits and Support Services
Community Health Choice Benefits
As a local nonprofit health plan, Community Health Choice gives you plenty of reasons to join our Community. Comprehensive medical care is just the start. CHPW supports you and your family's whole health with a team that's always on your side.
Care for You
Members over age 21 get free glasses, as well as low-cost extras and upgrades. Get a $25 gift card when you complete a colorectal cancer screening (at-home stool test or in-clinic colonoscopy).
Care for Moms, Families, & Kids
CHPW pays up to $200 toward the cost of circumcision. Up to $100 in gift cards for seeing the doctor during pregnancy. Get a $50 gift card when you visit the doctor 1 to 12 weeks after giving birth. You get a $20 gift card for every well-child exam.
Care in Your Community
We work with local partners to help you eat healthy foods. CHPW offers one-on-one or group counseling, gender-affirming care, and more for our LGBTQ+ members.
Staying Connected and Informed
Learn how to get a free cellphone with data and minutes. Learn how to use technology to get health care on your schedule.
Online Platforms and Digital Support
These platforms allow individuals to share their experiences, struggles, successes, and tips related to weight loss. Members can share progress pictures, healthy recipes, and workout routines and offer support and encouragement to one another. These platforms offer features like calorie tracking, exercise plans, and progress tracking, along with the ability to connect with other users.