Telehealth-Based Health Coaching Increases m-Health Device Adherence and Rate of Weight Loss in Obese Participants.

Healthy rate of weight loss (RWL) is defined as 1-2 lb of body weight loss per week. The objective of this study is to investigate changes in adherence to remote monitoring devices and RWL per week in response to a fully online, 12-week, medically monitored, weight management program incorporating weekly video-based health coaching (intervention group [INT]) versus self-guided (control group [CON]). Twenty-five obese participants (12 males, 13 females) were randomly assigned to either an INT (n = 13, 106.8 ± 25.46 kg, body mass index [BMI] = 35.19 ± 3.91 kg/m) or CON group (n = 12, 99.8 ± 19.14 kg, BMI = 34.86 ± 4.43 kg/m). Program related content was derived from inHealth Medical Services, Inc., Telehealth Enabled Approach to Multidisciplinary care (TEAM™) curriculum. All participants were given two wireless devices (Activity Pop and Body Scale; Withings, Cambridge, MA) that connected them directly with the research team. The INT group connected via telehealth videoconferencing weekly for health coaching with the registered dietitian and monthly for medical monitoring with the physician, while the CON group did not. Both groups connected with the physician and registered dietitian at baseline to establish clinical goals and at the end to review progress. To analyze the data, independent samples t-tests and χ tests were performed via SPSS v24 with data displayed as average ± SD; significance set to p < 0.05. The INT group had increased device adherence when compared with CON (92% ± 10% vs. 75% ± 15% scale [p < 0.05]) and (80% ± 14% vs. 49% ± 15% tracker [p < 0.05]). Furthermore, RWL per week was greater in the INT when compared with CON; -0.74 ± 1.8 kg versus 0.18 ± 1.8 kg per week, respectively (p < 0.05). Weekly health coaching via telehealth can be an effective tool to increase remote device adherence and may help to induce a healthy RWL.