Telehealth equally effective for weight loss as in-person programmes amid pandemic, study shows
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a notable shift in the weight loss programmes, from conventional face-to-face interactions to telehealth interventions. A recent study published in Obesity revealed that weight loss results via telehealth for adults suffering from obesity were comparably effective to those from traditional face-to-face programmes.
Dr. Katherine M. Ross, an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida, emphasises the significance of the study. She asserts that traditional behavioural interventions can be effectively implemented through telehealth or video conferencing technologies, enabling individuals to achieve meaningful health outcomes even amid pandemic-induced disruptions.
In their study, Ross and her team sought to compare the weight loss results achieved during the pandemic’s forced transition to virtual weight loss programmes with those from traditional in-person interventions.
The research team analysed data from 147 adults with obesity who had previously participated in a randomised controlled trial, following a 16-week Diabetes Prevention Programme lifestyle intervention. The participants were divided into two groups: the first attended in-person sessions until they transitioned to a virtual platform in the 11th week, and the second group participated entirely through video conference.
An impressive 70% of the participants shed 5% or more of their starting weight, with 26.3% losing 10% or more. After 16 weeks, participants had lost an average of 7.37 kg from their initial weight, representing a reduction of 7.2% of weight from the baseline, which fell within the acceptable range indicating its equivalence with in-person interventions.
Besides aiding successful weight loss, the telehealth programme also provided valuable flexibility. This included individual problem-solving, goal setting, and regular discussions on barriers, aiding participants in navigating the unique challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Ross, these findings suggest that telehealth interventions can be successful, and that sustainable changes in eating and exercise habits can be accomplished despite the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.
Looking to the future, Ross suggested that subsequent research should strive to incorporate a more diverse set of participants. She highlighted that their study mostly included females and non-Hispanic white participants from relatively high income and education backgrounds. It would be critical to assess whether telehealth benefits are evenly distributed across different population groups, particularly those disproportionately affected by obesity and the pandemic, such as Black and Hispanic adults and adults from lower-income households.
