This study aimed to evaluate the risk of eating disorders, psychological distress, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with class 3 obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2), and the effect of multidisciplinary weight management over 12 months. This retrospective cohort study included all adults with class 3 obesity who enrolled in a weight management program from March 2018 to December 2019. Questionnaires included the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short (EDE-QS), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) for HRQoL. Physical and Mental Component Summary scores (PCS and MCS) were derived from the SF-36. Of 169 participants who completed 12 months in the program, 65.7% (n = 111) completed questionnaires at baseline and 12 months, with 6.0 ± 6.8% weight loss over this period. Compared to baseline, there was significant improvement at 12 months in EDE-QS (15.7 ± 6.6 vs. 13.6 ± 6.2, p = 0.002), K10 (25.7 ± 9.7 vs. 21.2 ± 9.4, p < 0.001), PCS (29.4 ± 10.1 vs. 36.1 ± 10.9, p < 0.001), and MCS scores (40.2 ± 12.4 vs. 44.0 ± 13.4, p = 0.001). All, apart from EDE-QS scores, remained significant after adjusting for weight change. This study highlights the importance of multidisciplinary management in people with class 3 obesity to help reduce eating disorder risk and psychological distress, and improve HRQoL, in addition to weight loss.

Introduction. Class 3 obesity (BMI≥40 kg/m2) is a growing health problem worldwide associated with considerable comorbidity including Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The multidisciplinary medical management of obesity can be difficult in T2DM due to potential weight gain from medications including sulphonylureas and insulin. However, newer weight-neutral/losing diabetes medications can aid additional weight loss. The aim of this study was to compare weight loss outcomes of patients with and without T2DM, and in patients with T2DM, to compare diabetes outcomes and change in medications at 6 months. Methods. All patients entering a multidisciplinary weight management metabolic program in a publicly funded hospital clinic in Sydney between March 2018 and March 2019, with BMI≥40 kg/m2 and aged ≥18 years were included. Data was collected from patient clinical and electronic notes at baseline and 6 months. Results. Of the 180 patients who entered the program, 53.3% had T2DM at baseline. There was no difference in percentage weight loss in those with or without T2DM (4.2±4.9% vs. 3.6±4.7%, p=0.35). Additionally, T2DM patients benefited from a 0.47% reduction in HbA1c (p<0.01) and a reduction in the number of medications from baseline to 6 months (1.8±1.0/patient vs. 1.0±1.2/patient, p<0.001). T2DM patients who started on weigh-neutral/losing medications in the program lost more weight than those started on weight-gaining medications (7.7±5.3% vs. 2.4±3.8%, p=0.015). Conclusions. Patients with class 3 obesity had significant weight loss at 6 months in this program. Patients with T2DM at baseline had comparable weight loss at 6 months, a significant improvement in glycaemic control, and a reduction in diabetes medication load. Additionally, patients with T2DM who were started on weight-neutral/losing medications lost significantly more weight than those started on weight-gaining medications, and these medications should be preferentially used in class 3 obesity and comorbid T2DM.

Summary Impaired physical capacity is common in people with severe levels of obesity. We aimed to investigate changes in physical capacity outcomes in patients with severe obesity following 12 months of physician‐led multidisciplinary care from a “real world” Australian public hospital setting using a case series study design. We extracted data from medical records for all of the eligible patients referred to our clinical obesity service from 2010 to 2015 (69 of 239). We found significant (P < .05) pre‐test/post‐test (mean ± SD) improvements in the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT) (339 ± 120 to 417 ± 112 m); 30‐second sit‐to‐stand test (11 ± 4 to 15 ± 6 counts) and sit‐and‐reach test (−12 ± 13 to −8 ± 15 cm). Using linear mixed‐effects models adjusting for repeated measurements over time (baseline vs 12 months) and testing for potential predictors, we found: mean 6MWT was associated with 12‐month time period (56 m), body mass index (BMI, −3 m), no walking aid over 12 months (106 m) and no opioid analgesics (75 m); mean sit‐to‐stand was associated with 12‐month time period (3 counts), age at referral (−0.2 counts), BMI (−0.2 counts), and diabetes (3 counts); and mean sit‐and‐reach was associated with 12‐month time period (5 cm), female gender (5 cm) and total medications (−0.9 cm). Using causal mediation analysis, our results show that total exercise classes partially mediates change in walking capacity among those with cardiovascular disease. Our study shows that significant and clinically important improvements in physical capacity outcomes in patients with severe obesity can be achieved following 12 months of intensive specialist obesity services, such as ours.