Using telehealth to increase participation in weight maintenance programs.

Area of Science:

• Obesity research
• Behavioral science
• Health services research

Background:

• Weight regain is a common challenge after structured weight loss programs.
• Effective and convenient weight maintenance strategies are needed for long-term success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare weight regain, participant satisfaction, and program convenience across telehealth, traditional classroom, and no-intervention weight maintenance programs.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of different delivery methods for sustained weight management.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental study involving 87 participants who had previously completed a community-based weight loss program.
• Comparison of three groups: telehealth (web/email interaction with a registered dietitian), traditional classes, and no program (control).
• Assessment of weight change, satisfaction, and convenience over a 6-month period.

Main Results:

• Participants in the no program group gained significantly more weight (1.7 kg) than those in the telehealth (-0.6 kg) and traditional (-0.5 kg) groups over 6 months.
• No significant differences in overall satisfaction were found between telehealth and traditional program participants.
• Telehealth participants reported significantly higher program convenience compared to the traditional group.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth programs are a useful and convenient option for long-term weight loss maintenance.
• These findings support telehealth as a viable alternative for individuals seeking structured support without traditional class attendance.