Development of a Videoconference-Adapted Version of the Community Diabetes Prevention Program, and Comparison of Weight Loss With In-Person Program Delivery

Abstract

IntroductionEffective, standardized, and easily accessible weight management programs are urgently needed for military beneficiaries. Videoconference interventions have the potential for widespread scaling, and can provide both real time interaction and flexibility in delivery times regardless of location, but there is little information on their effectiveness and acceptability.Materials and MethodsThis study as part of a larger weight loss trial describes the videoconference adaption of Group Lifestyle Balance (GLB) program, a community group-based Diabetes Prevention Program intervention, and provides a comparison of weight loss and meeting attendance between in-person and videoconference delivery modes over 12 weeks in adult family members of military service members. Forty-three participants were enrolled from two military installations and received either the videoconference-adapted or an in-person GLB program in a non-randomized trial design. Differences in program attendance and percent weight lost at 12 weeks were compared by independent samples t-tests and nonparametric methods. Group differences in the percentage of weight lost over the 12-week period were analyzed using a linear mixed model.ResultsAll GLB intervention components were successfully delivered by videoconference with minor adaptations for the different delivery mechanism. Participant retention was 70% and 96% in the in-person and videoconference groups, respectively (p = 0.04). Completing participants in both groups lost a significant percent body weight over the 12 week intervention (p < 0.001) and there was no difference in percent body weight after 12 weeks of intervention (6.2 ± 3.2% and 5.3 ± 3.4% for in-person and videoconference at 12 weeks, respectively; p = 0.60).ConclusionThis study describes the first videoconference adaption of the GLB program for use in military families. Attrition was lower in the videoconference group, and there were a similar levels of weight loss in both groups regardless of delivery modality. Videoconference weight loss interventions are effective and feasible for scaling to support healthy weight management in military as well as civilian populations.

Remote Treatment Successfully Delivers a Usual Care Weight Loss and Lifestyle Intervention in Adults with Morbid Obesity

“…The present study is the first to show that an intensive multimodal weight loss intervention for morbid obesity can induce a 12-month weight loss greater than 20%, whether delivered face to face or partially remotely. This is in line with previous reports that found weight loss after standard behavioral treatment comparable between inperson, phone-, or videoconferencing delivery [7,[14][15][16][17] and confirms that delivery mode might not be a significant predictor of 12-month weight loss [6].…”

Impact of transition from face‐to‐face to telehealth on behavioral obesity treatment during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Several large clinical trials have shown similar outcomes for programs using group telephone calls versus face-to-face groups (4,5), and one fully powered equivalency trial demonstrated no difference in outcomes between these modalities (6). To date, only smaller pilot studies have implemented group-based interventions via newer videoconferencing technology (7)(8)(9); however, results have demonstrated weight losses smaller in magnitude (e.g., 4%-5% from baseline weight) than traditional in-person interventions.…”

The benefit of telemedicine in obesity care

“…By decreasing the time and resource commitments needed for frequent counseling appointments, telemedicine may also help improve long‐term adherence. In one study, a comparison between patients who participated in a weight‐loss intervention visit via videoconference and those who attended in person showed a significantly higher retention rate (96%) for those who participated by videoconference compared with those who attended in person (70%) (46). In a fully online, medically monitored weight‐management program, Alencar et al (51) investigated whether weekly health coaching delivered via videoconferencing could increase adherence to the use of remote‐monitoring devices (scale and tracker).…”

“…Telemedicine has also been utilized to improve access to obesity treatment for patients who are active-duty members of the military, military families (46), and veterans (36,47). A retrospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of providing a weight-management program to veterans via videoconferencing.…”

“…By decreasing the time and resource commitments needed for frequent counseling appointments, telemedicine may also help improve long-term adherence. In one study, a comparison between patients who participated in a weight-loss intervention visit via videoconference and those who attended in person showed a significantly higher retention rate (96%) for those who participated by videoconference compared with those who attended in person (70%) (46).…”