Associations of weight loss with obesity‐related comorbidities in a large integrated health system
Arshiya Mariam, Galen Miller‐Atkins, Kevin M. Pantalone, Neeraj N. Iyer, Anita D. Misra‐Hebert, Alex Milinovich, Janine Bauman, Michelle Mocarski, Abhilasha Ramasamy, B. Gabriel Smolarz, Todd Hobbs, Robert S. Zimmerman, Bartolomé Burguera, Michael W. Kattan, Daniel M. Rotroff
Abstract
AIMS: To determine the health outcomes associated with weight loss in individuals with obesity, and to better understand the relationship between disease burden (disease burden; ie, prior comorbidities, healthcare utilization) and weight loss in individuals with obesity by analysing electronic health records (EHRs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: and had ≥7 weight measurements, over ≥3 years. Thirty outcomes were investigated, including chronic and acute diseases, as well as psychological and metabolic disorders. Weight change was investigated 3, 5 and 10 years prior to an event. RESULTS: Weight loss was associated with reduced incidence of many outcomes (eg, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis/nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, hypertension; P < 0.05). Weight loss >10% was associated with increased incidence of certain outcomes including stroke and substance abuse. However, many outcomes that increased with weight loss were attenuated by disease burden adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the most comprehensive real-world evaluation of the health impacts of weight change to date. After comorbidity burden and healthcare utilization adjustments, weight loss was associated with an overall reduction in risk of many adverse outcomes.