Abstract

Obesity is a chronic, progressive disease that remains widely underdiagnosed and undertreated in clinical practice. To address this gap, our health system implemented a three-phase quality improvement initiative aimed at increasing accurate obesity diagnosis and expanding access to evidence-based treatment.

Phase 1 involved structured interviews with primary care physicians, specialty providers, and advanced practice providers to assess barriers to obesity care. Key deficits were identified in provider knowledge, workflow integration, and confidence in management. In response, we developed evidence-based learning modules on obesity pathophysiology, bias reduction, and treatment strategies including obesity management medications, bariatric surgery, nutrition and exercise recommendations. Completion of these 5 modules was across all primary care physicians and advanced practice providers within the system.

Phase 2 focused on electronic medical record optimization. A best practice advisory was integrated to automatically display body mass index (BMI) appropriate obesity diagnosis, provide access to an obesity pyramid calculator, and prompt appropriate diagnostic coding of obesity. This intervention standardizes documentation, ensures timely recognition, and facilitates initiation of treatment conversations.

This ongoing initiative demonstrates how system-level interventions—combining provider education with EMR-based clinical decision support—can drive culture change and close gaps in obesity care. Early adoption highlights the potential for scalable models to improve diagnosis, treatment uptake, and long-term outcomes for individuals living with obesity.