Peer Coaching to Support Weight Management in Primary Care

Can a primary care-based peer coaching program lead to greater weight loss than enhanced usual care (EUC)?In this cluster randomized clinical trial involving 20 primary care physicians and 281 of their patients, there was no difference in weight loss between groups at 12 months; however, patients in the peer coaching group lost a higher percentage of weight at 12 months and were more likely to join a weight loss program at 6 months.The findings suggest that peer coaching can produce weight loss in primary care and promote enrollment in a weight management program.

Corresponding Author: Melanie Jay, MD, Department of Medicine, VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, 423 E 23 St, New York, NY 10010 (melanie.jay@va.gov).

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