PATHWEIGH: Rethinking How Primary Care Treats Obesity

A Colorado endocrinologist has helped transform how primary care clinics approach obesity by replacing vague advice with structured, compassionate medical support. Leigh Perreault, MD, of the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, developed PATHWEIGH after growing frustrated that patients were routinely told to “eat less and exercise more,” even when that approach failed to address underlying health issues.

PATHWEIGH creates dedicated clinic visits focused solely on weight management, giving patients clear options and removing stigma from conversations about weight. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the program was implemented across 56 UCHealth primary care clinics, involving more than 274,000 patients.

Results published in Nature Medicine showed that PATHWEIGH halted average population weight gain and produced modest weight loss over 18 months. Patients were also more likely to receive evidence-based weight-related care, including counseling and medication.

Experts say that while individual changes may seem small, the population-level impact could significantly slow rising obesity rates.

27-01-2026