TOPLINE:

A 24-week telehealth program combining long-acting anti-obesity medications (AOMs) with tailored virtual behavioral support lead to meaningful weight loss and blood pressure reductions among individuals with overweight or obesity.

METHODOLOGY:

• Although semaglutide and tirzepatide have demonstrated weight-loss efficacy and their growing demand has expanded telemedicine prescribing, evidence on telemedicine-based AOM programs remains limited.
• Researchers conducted a prospective, real-world study to evaluate the weight loss and cardiovascular effects of telemedicine-delivered long-acting AOMs combined with a virtual behavioral program tailored for AOM users in individuals with overweight or obesity.
• A total of 180 individuals (mean age, 44.11 years; 91.11% women; mean BMI, 37.13) were prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide, attended weekly 30-60 minute virtual coaching sessions on behavior change, and used a specialized companion app to track food intake, activity, and weight.
• Participants received Bluetooth-enabled scales and blood pressure monitors to remotely track weight and blood pressure throughout the 24-week study period.
• The primary objective was weight loss at 24 weeks; secondary analyses included weight loss at 12 weeks and changes in blood pressure, dietary habits, and physical activity at 12 and 24 weeks.

TAKEAWAY:

• Participants lost an average of 7.2% of baseline weight at 12 weeks and 12.3% at 24 weeks (P < .0001 for both). By 24 weeks, 67.22% lost ≥ 10% of their baseline weight.
• From baseline to 24 weeks, mean systolic blood pressure fell from 131.2 mm Hg to 120.0 mm Hg and mean diastolic blood pressure from 83.8 mm Hg to 78.2 mm Hg (P < .0001 for both).
• At 24 weeks, participants exhibited improved eating habits and dietary quality, along with reduced sedentary behavior (P < .0001 for all).
• The most common side effects were nausea (42.7%), constipation (16.8%), and diarrhea (12.0%); no participants reported missing doses due to side effects.

IN PRACTICE:

“Combined telemedicine with virtually delivered lifestyle interventions for obesity is a viable option for improving access to clinically significant outcomes, although longer-term outcomes should be assessed,” the authors wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Leslie J. Heinberg, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland. It was published online in Obesity.

LIMITATIONS:

The single‑arm design lacked a control group, preventing separation of AOM effects from those of the behavioral intervention. Significant medication shortages during this study led to missed doses, potentially attenuating results. Findings may not have generalized to individuals lacking access to remote care or medication coverage.

DISCLOSURES:

This study received funding from WW International Inc. Four authors disclosed relationships including receipt of research funding, employment, shareholdings, and consultancy roles with WW International.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.