Evaluation of weight loss counsel for Osteoarthritis patients: A cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2011–2018

Objective Though health care providers (HCPs) know the importance of weight loss counsel for Osteoarthritis (OA), little is known about how frequently it is practiced and even less of its effectiveness. Thus, we analyzed the prevalence and effectiveness of weight counsel receipt in overweight/obese OA patients. Design Using 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, we cross-sectionally analyzed overweight/obese patients in the United States to determine the prevalence of receipt of HCP weight counsel in those with OA and among other variables. We used multivariate logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios of being counseled and of achieving ten percent weight loss in groups with and without counsel. Mean weight losses were also compared among groups. Results 39,156 patients were identified, of whom 1948 met inclusion criteria. Overall, 51.89% of overweight/obese OA patients received weight counseling. The odds of receiving counsel varied with several demographic variables. The odds of achieving 10% weight loss in those counseled was 1.84 times (95% confidence interval: 1.028, 3.299) that of those not counseled (p = 0.04). In contrast, patients counseled lost a mean of 0.49 pounds while those not counseled gained a mean of 0.03 pounds, a difference which was not statistically significant (p = 0.59). Conclusion Prevalence of weight counsel receipt for OA has not changed significantly between 2011 and 2018. Though counsel for weight more frequently leads to adequate weight loss in those with OA, the average weight loss is minimal regardless of counsel. Thus, refinement of this intervention may be needed to bolster weight loss.