Research
Adherence
Minoritized patients are disproportionately funneled into lifestyle counseling (MOVE!) while being underutilized for more effective, intensive treatments like medications and bariatric surgery.
Be aware that you might be offered lifestyle programs first. While these are helpful, they are less effective than medications or surgery for many. Ask your provider why you are not being considered for more intensive treatments if your BMI and health status warrant it.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Our results reveal higher adjusted odds of using MOVE! and lower odds of using medications for several minoritized patient groups, as well as lower odds of undergoing bariatric surgery for Black patients. ... medications and surgery produce substantially more weight loss on average ... this set of results indicating lower access to more intensive, more effective treatments among minoritized patients is troubling
Why this rating
Strong observational data showing disparity in treatment types.
Source
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Obesity Treatment in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
Rebecca L. Tisdale et al. · medRxiv · 2024
preprint · n=2423070
Read the paper This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →