Cost analysis of implementing a community health worker-led weight reduction randomized-controlled trial among prediabetic south asian patients at primary care sites in NYC

Authors: Avni Gupta, Laura C Wyatt, Shinu Mammen, Jennifer M Zanowiak, Sahnah Lim, Nadia S Islam, Rashi Kumar, Susan Beane, Heather T Gold

This study looked at the cost of running a weight loss program led by community health workers (CHWs) for South Asian adults with prediabetes in New York City. The program included group sessions and was delivered in person at first, then remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over three rounds, the average cost for six months was about $215,000, mostly spent on staff salaries. Running the program at several clinics at once was more cost-effective than at just one. The findings suggest that delivering the program to multiple sites together saves money and can help guide future decisions on how to support weight loss in communities with limited resources.