Best practice for obesity and weight management: finding success through linking effective gastric bypass surgery policy and health management.

Abstract

Obesity is a health issue of epidemic proportions in the United States, creating a health and financial burden for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial populations alike. While obesity has been linked to an increased risk for any number of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, even a moderate weight loss can mitigate some of the negative medical consequences of unhealthy weight. Obese individuals are often unsuccessful at meeting their weight loss goals for a variety of reasons. Many are increasingly looking to gastric bypass surgery as an easy-fix weight loss solution without fully addressing underlying issues for the original weight gain and failures with previous attempts to lose weight. Because of this, over the past five years an increase in gastric bypass surgeries has resulted in cases with poor outcomes and a subsequent reaction by health plans and employers across the country to eliminate coverage. Others have determined that, while exclusion is not the answer, neither is coverage as standard policies allow. Instead, these groups are opting to implement best practice programs that merge individualized counseling, nutritional education/ planning, and physical activity goals with specific policy changes. Evidence has shown that they are achieving success in managing obesity and its impact on healthcare costs and outcomes.