Doctors Changed One Thing and Weight Gain Stopped

Key Points:

• Endocrinologist Leigh Perreault developed PATHWEIGH, a structured weight management system integrated into primary care, which has been shown to halt population-level weight gain and shift trends toward weight loss.
• Implemented in 56 UCHealth clinics in Colorado and reaching over 274,000 patients, PATHWEIGH increased the likelihood of patients receiving weight-related care by 23% and doubled prescriptions for anti-obesity medications.
• The program streamlines weight management visits through electronic health record surveys and focused appointments, creating a patient-provider shared goal and reducing stigma around weight discussions.
• Research published in Nature Medicine demonstrated that PATHWEIGH reversed the average annual population weight gain of 0.5 kg, marking a significant public health achievement in obesity treatment.
• Following its success in Colorado, PATHWEIGH is gaining national attention, with several health systems across multiple states considering adoption and the Obesity Association recommending it as a standard care process.