LONG BEACH, Calif. – An mHealth coaching program helped obese patients lose a significant amount of weight, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. “Mobile phone-based health coaching may promote weight loss,” the researchers at California State University at Long Beach, the University of Saint Mary, UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and InHealth Medical Services wrote. A total of 25 obese participants were recruited for an online 12-week weight loss program. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or control group, and all participants were given access to a secure platform for data tracking and video conferencing with the research team. The intervention group met with the medical doctor once per month and with a registered dietitian, weekly. Control participants met with the research team at baseline and at 12 weeks. Almost 70% of the intervention group reached a “clinically significant” weight loss, while only 8% of the control group lost a significant amount of weight. “Weekly video conferencing with education may be an applicable tool for inducing significant body weight loss in obese individuals,” the researchers concluded.
