Long‐Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior Change
ABSTRACT Background Virtually‐delivered obesity care has the potential to increase access to weight loss interventions at scale. While there is ample literature assessing various weight loss interventions, studies specifically demonstrating outcomes of commercial programs offering antiobesity medica...
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Obesity Science & Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.70036 |
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| author | Jennifer M. Clark Brooke J. Smith Jessie L. Juusola Rekha B. Kumar |
| author_facet | Jennifer M. Clark Brooke J. Smith Jessie L. Juusola Rekha B. Kumar |
| author_sort | Jennifer M. Clark |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background Virtually‐delivered obesity care has the potential to increase access to weight loss interventions at scale. While there is ample literature assessing various weight loss interventions, studies specifically demonstrating outcomes of commercial programs offering antiobesity medications in virtual care settings are lacking. Methods This retrospective cohort study assessed the weight loss outcomes of 66,094 participants in a virtual weight care program that prescribes antiobesity medications alongside a digital behavior change program. Outcomes included the primary endpoint of percent weight loss at 12 months, as well as absolute change in body weight, change in body mass index (BMI), categorical weight loss at three, six, and 12 months, and stratifications by program engagement and medication type (first vs. second generation antiobesity medications). Results At program enrollment, members were on average 42.6 years old and 91.5% female, with a BMI of 36.0 kg/m2. At 12 months, the mean percent weight loss was 8.0%, with weight loss increasing over time from 2.9 kg (SD = 3.7, Cohen's d = 0.8) at 3 months, to 5.8 kg (SD = 6.1, Cohen's d = 0.9) at 6 months, to 8.0 kg (SD = 8.7, Cohen's d = 0.9) at 12 months (p < 0.001 for all time points). At 12 months, 64.2% had achieved ≥ 5% weight loss. Weight loss outcomes increased with program engagement. At 12 months, those engaging at least once weekly lost 10.0% of body weight, while those logging weight at least weekly lost 12.0%. Conclusion This study provides real‐world evidence that users of a virtual commercial weight care clinic who were prescribed antiobesity medications achieved clinically significant weight loss at six and 12 months. These findings support the value of virtual platforms in efficiently scaling access to high‐quality weight care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-876ecdc9033045ebbc6d1f1f608a1150 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2055-2238 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Obesity Science & Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-876ecdc9033045ebbc6d1f1f608a11502025-08-20T02:46:08ZengWileyObesity Science & Practice2055-22382025-02-01111n/an/a10.1002/osp4.70036Long‐Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior ChangeJennifer M. Clark0Brooke J. Smith1Jessie L. Juusola2Rekha B. Kumar3Found Health, Inc. Austin Texas USAFound Health, Inc. Austin Texas USAAnchor Outcomes LLC San Francisco California USAFound Health, Inc. Austin Texas USAABSTRACT Background Virtually‐delivered obesity care has the potential to increase access to weight loss interventions at scale. While there is ample literature assessing various weight loss interventions, studies specifically demonstrating outcomes of commercial programs offering antiobesity medications in virtual care settings are lacking. Methods This retrospective cohort study assessed the weight loss outcomes of 66,094 participants in a virtual weight care program that prescribes antiobesity medications alongside a digital behavior change program. Outcomes included the primary endpoint of percent weight loss at 12 months, as well as absolute change in body weight, change in body mass index (BMI), categorical weight loss at three, six, and 12 months, and stratifications by program engagement and medication type (first vs. second generation antiobesity medications). Results At program enrollment, members were on average 42.6 years old and 91.5% female, with a BMI of 36.0 kg/m2. At 12 months, the mean percent weight loss was 8.0%, with weight loss increasing over time from 2.9 kg (SD = 3.7, Cohen's d = 0.8) at 3 months, to 5.8 kg (SD = 6.1, Cohen's d = 0.9) at 6 months, to 8.0 kg (SD = 8.7, Cohen's d = 0.9) at 12 months (p < 0.001 for all time points). At 12 months, 64.2% had achieved ≥ 5% weight loss. Weight loss outcomes increased with program engagement. At 12 months, those engaging at least once weekly lost 10.0% of body weight, while those logging weight at least weekly lost 12.0%. Conclusion This study provides real‐world evidence that users of a virtual commercial weight care clinic who were prescribed antiobesity medications achieved clinically significant weight loss at six and 12 months. These findings support the value of virtual platforms in efficiently scaling access to high‐quality weight care.https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.70036antiobesity medicationdigital healthreal‐world evidenceretrospective studyweight maintenance |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer M. Clark Brooke J. Smith Jessie L. Juusola Rekha B. Kumar Long‐Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior Change Obesity Science & Practice antiobesity medication digital health real‐world evidence retrospective study weight maintenance |
| title | Long‐Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior Change |
| title_full | Long‐Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior Change |
| title_fullStr | Long‐Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior Change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long‐Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior Change |
| title_short | Long‐Term Weight Loss Outcomes in a Virtual Weight Care Clinic Prescribing a Broad Range of Medications Alongside Behavior Change |
| title_sort | long term weight loss outcomes in a virtual weight care clinic prescribing a broad range of medications alongside behavior change |
| topic | antiobesity medication digital health real‐world evidence retrospective study weight maintenance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.70036 |
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