木瓜直播

As of 2022, of the total U.S. population were immigrants, U.S. Census data show, with a projected rise by , according to estimates from the Pew Research Center. Among immigrants, the that of the general U.S. population, with immigrant women especially facing a greater burden of obesity and more challenges in losing weight. Effective weight-loss treatment for this population, however, usually takes place in a primary care setting.

In a recent study in , Wudeneh Mulugeta, MD, MPH, of Harvard 木瓜直播 School and Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, reported his chart-review analysis of 48 women, ages 38 to 50, who had mean baseline weights of approximately 95-112 kg (206-247 lbs). All the participants were successfully treated in primary care with a virtual program using self-reported patient data.

Mulugeta elaborated on the study in the following interview.

What was known before your study about treating immigrant women with obesity?

Mulugeta: Although there have been studies based on lifestyle or behavioral interventions in the past, to our knowledge there has not been much in the literature looking at outcomes of a comprehensive weight-management approach incorporating pharmacotherapy among immigrant women in the U.S. Ours is among the first, if not the first, studies to do so.

How did you select patients, and what was the makeup ethnically of the study population?

Mulugeta: The patients were selected based on the virtual telehealth visits they had at a safety-net health system in Massachusetts in order to primarily address obesity through a retrospective chart review. The ethnic breakdown was Brazilian (52%), Hispanic (29%), and "others" (19%).

Might obesity in immigrant women be even higher in other regions in the U.S. such as the Southwest?

Mulugeta: Although there are limited data available on this among immigrant women, there is some evidence that higher overall obesity rates in the general population of some regions or states such as Mississippi correspond to higher obesity rates among immigrants there.

In our we published interesting findings where the obesity rates among some immigrant groups can approach or exceed the obesity rate of the general U.S. population. In addition to offering treatment for obesity, there might be a window of opportunity for prevention strategies.

What factors might potentially put immigrant women at greater risk for obesity?

Mulugeta: There are a multitude of factors contributing to unhealthy weight gain among immigrant women. Their more sedentary lifestyle along with lack of access to healthy foods combined with the accessibility of high-calorie, highly processed unhealthy foods and beverages play a significant role. Furthermore, psychosocial factors such as stress and trauma can also contribute as immigrant women try to adapt to their new environment.

Do immigrant women appear to be as motivated to lose weight as their U.S.-born counterparts with obesity?

Mulugeta: Although this issue was not specifically evaluated, participants were generally motivated, but their level of engagement can vary from person to person. There are some cultural differences that may influence perceptions or attitudes towards weight management in the immigrant population.

Medical weight management is most effective with a patient-centered approach. Meeting patients where they are and understanding the cultural context is another layer to be added in working with immigrant women.

What were the main findings of your study?

Mulugeta: In the average follow-up period of 9.4 months, the average percent weight reduction was 8.7%. In addition, 85% of participants had a clinically meaningful weight reduction of >5%, and 42% had a >10% weight reduction. Overall, average body mass index decreased by 3.4 kg/m². These amounts are comparable to those from studies in the general U.S. population.

What were the main study limitations and what is the next research step?

Mulugeta: The main limitations were that the research was conducted with patient self-reported information at a single site and in a relatively small sample size. A future direction will be to build on these findings to include larger and more diverse populations at different sites and geographic locations.

What is your main takeaway message for physicians who have immigrant women with obesity in their practices?

Mulugeta: The main takeaway is that immigrant women can be disproportionately impacted by obesity and unhealthy weight gain, and patient-centered care that considers cultural context can be an effective approach for weight management in primary care settings.

Read the study here.