Background: This study aimed to report weight loss outcomes and evaluate behaviors of high performing participants who achieved ≥ 15% weight loss at 6 and 18 months in a precision medicine weight loss program, which incorporates clinical visits, a mobile application (mHealth) and tailored nutritional programming.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on participants, aged ≥ 18 years with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, who enrolled in Enara Health’s weight loss program from March 1, 2015 to October 1, 2018. Participants were matched into 6 and 18-month cohorts. An analysis characterized high-performing participants who lost ≥ 15% of their starting weight. Behaviors evaluated included: monthly appointments, monthly coaching text conversations, weekly food pictures, percent of educational content completed, weekly weight monitoring, and number of days wearing an activity tracker.
Results: Average weight loss for the 6-month (n = 479) and 18-month (n = 145) cohorts was -12.40% and -13.99%, respectively. 32.57% of participants achieved 15% weight loss at 6 months and 41.38% of participants achieved 15% weight loss at 18 months. High achievers at 6 months had increased monthly appointments (3.05 ± 0.82 vs 2.72 ± 0.92, P < 0.001), weekly food pictures (40.64 ± 27.85 vs 33.61 ± 26.51, P = 0.011), educational activity compliance (60.98 ± 34.48% vs 47.10 ± 34.91%, P < 0.001) and weekly weights (3.11 ± 2.28 vs 2.55 ± 1.97, P = 0.011). High achievers at 18 months attended more monthly appointments (2.12 ± 0.58 vs 1.78 ± 0.70, P = 0.002), engaged in more monthly coaching text conversations (6.92 ± 5.61 vs 4.41 ± 3.65, P = 0.002), and weighed themselves more frequently beyond 12 months (1.92 ± 1.98 vs 1.26 ± 1.64, P = 0.47).
Conclusion: Participants in the Enara Health precision weight loss program lost an average of- 13.99% at 18 months. Self-tracking behaviors characterized high achievers at 6 months and increased number of provider-patient touchpoints characterized high achievers at 18 months. Mobile health applications may be better suited to achieve sustained weight loss by designing features that facilitate provider-patient interactions on top of self-tracking technology.
doi: 10.17756/jocd.2020-035
Citation: Lih A, Safavi R, Isaq Z, Haller S, Bailony M. 2020. Mobile Engagement Behaviors Associated with Sustained 15% Weight Loss. J Obes Chronic Dis 4(1): 35-41.
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