 Evette J. Ludman, PhD Showing up for a weight loss program matters most in Group Health study SEATTLE—Women with major depression were no less likely than were women without it to have successful results with a weight loss program, according to an article in the Winter 2009 Behavioral Medicine. Group Health Research Institute Senior Research Associate Evette J. Ludman, PhD, the study leader, concluded that weight loss programs should not exclude depressed people. Dr. Ludman’s study included 190 female Group Health patients age 40 to 65 with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more: 65 with major depressive disorder and 125 without it. The women had not been seeking treatment, but they enrolled in a one-year behavioral weight loss intervention involving 26 group sessions. The intervention, developed at the University of Minnesota over the past 20 years, has proven at least as good as any other currently available non-medical treatment. Some previous research had hinted that depression might worsen outcomes in behavioral weight loss programs. That’s why trials of weight loss interventions typically exclude people with major depression. “We expected women with major depression to lose less weight, attend fewer sessions, eat more calories, and get less exercise than those without depression,” Dr. Ludman said. “We were surprised to find no significant differences between the women who had depression and those who did not have it.” Women had lost around the same amount of weight at 6 months (8 or 9 pounds) and 12 months (7 or 8 pounds), with no significant differences between the groups with and without depression. (more…) |
Depressed women can lose weight as successfully as others do
Study of aging in Group Health patients renewed with $12 million grant
Eric Larson MD, Executive Director of Group Health Research Institute
Eric Larson MD, Executive Director of Group Health Research Institute
Collaboration with University of Washington aims to prevent dementia, including Alzheimer’s
SEATTLE— Every two years, 2,000 senior Group Health patients check in with the Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) study. The joint project between Group Health Research Institute and the University of Washington (UW) focuses on finding ways to delay or prevent dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and declines in memory and thinking. It aims to deepen understanding of how the body—especially the brain—ages.
The National Institute on Aging recently awarded the ACT study a grant of nearly $12 million to continue its work for the next five years. In continuous operation for 23 years, it is the longest-running study of its kind.
“Thanks to our dedicated patients—and our team of leading-edge scientists and staff at the UW and Group Health—the ACT study is a ‘living laboratory’ of aging,” said study leader Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, executive director of Group Health Research Institute. “We’ve learned about what our research subjects value as they age. And we hope to help them find the best solutions to age well—promoting their independence and providing them with skills to cope with any problems that may occur.”
At each biannual study visit, participants are observed as they walk and do many other physical and mental tasks. They are asked many questions, including whether they would allow an autopsy on their brains after they die. Thanks to willing participants, the study has gleaned its most recent discoveries, which center on how vascular (blood vessel) disease contributes to late-life dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease: (more…)
Group Health Mammogram Recommendation Remains Unchanged
Group Health will make no immediate changes to its guideline for breast cancer screening. Our clinical experts will review the new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations in early 2010 and determine if we need to make changes.
The USPSTF recently published updated recommendations for breast cancer screening. Major changes in its recommendations include:
- Mammograms are no longer routinely recommended for women aged 40 to 49 who are not at high risk for breast cancer. The decision to start mammography should be an individual decision.
- Routine mammograms are recommended every 2 years, rather than every year, for women aged 50 to 74.
- Teaching the breast self-exam is no longer recommended.
The new USPSTF recommendation for women aged 40 to 49 differs from Group Health’s screening guideline. The 2-year mammogram schedule for women aged 50 to 74 at average risk is consistent with Group Health recommendations.
What Does This Mean for You?
Continue to follow your screening schedule. If you aren’t currently on a schedule for breast cancer screening, see our guideline above.
“Women who are concerned about screening for breast cancer are encouraged to talk to their primary care physician,” said Dr. Janet Chestnut, an oncologist practicing at the Riverfront Center in Spokane and the co-chair for the Integrated Cancer Screening Team for Group Health.
About the Changes
The USPSTF is a group of health experts who review published research and make recommendations about preventive care. The USPSTF has found that:
- Routinely screening women aged 40 to 49 increases the chance that they will have an incorrect test result, known as a false-positive test result. False-positive results are usually caused by denser breast tissue found in younger women. False-positive results lead to unnecessary tests and procedures that could be harmful to the patient.
- Routine screening can lead to an overdiagnosis of breast cancer. Some tumors found by mammography pose little harm, but lead to a diagnosis of breast cancer and unnecessary treatment, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
- The benefit in doing mammograms every 2 years is nearly the same as the benefit in doing it every year.
- There is no evidence to show a benefit in doing breast self-exams.
Recommendations for women aged 74 and older have remained the same. The decision to continue or stop having mammograms should be based on the person’s situation and personal preference.
We encourage you to talk with your physician about breast cancer screening if you have any questions or concerns. Together, you can decide on a mammogram schedule that’s right for you, based on the benefits and risks of screening.
Group Health Medicare ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
SEATTLE — U.S. News & World Report and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) have ranked Group Health Cooperative’s Medicare plan as among the best in the nation. Quality of care and patient experience measures put Group Health at number 11 out of 256 Medicare participating plans.
Group Health has served Medicare patients for more than 30 years — longer than any other health plan in Washington. Thirty percent of the state’s Medicare Advantage enrollees receive their care through Group Health — more Medicare patients than any other health plan in the state.
“We are extremely proud that our experience and our innovative approaches to improving care are making a real difference in providing better health care and better patient experiences for seniors,” said Group Health President and CEO Scott Armstrong. “What is really exciting is that we are continuing to move forward. In 2010, our Medicare patients will experience more and easier access to their care team as we have increased our investment in staffing and training at our 26 medical centers.”
The news comes as Group Health has significantly reduced premium rates for its Medicare Advantage members. The new rates go into effect Jan. 1, 2010. Group Health now offers five Medicare Advantage HMO plans, called Clear Care, in the 13 counties primarily served by Group Health medical centers. Two of the HMO plans will have $17 monthly premiums.
Also in January, Group Health will offer two new Clear Care PPO (preferred provider organization) plans in Benton, Franklin, and Yakima counties in Central Washington, and in the eastern parts of Clallam and Jefferson counties on the Olympic Peninsula.
NCQA and U.S. News & World Report also placed Group Health’s commercial plan 76th in the nation out of 285 participating commercial plans.
