%0 Journal Article
%T The efficacy of a telemedicine
%A Elizabeth Gutierrez
%A Kelly Johnson
%A Michelle K Alencar
%A Olga Korosteleva
%A Rashmi Mullur
%A Virginia Gray
%J Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
%@ 1758-1109
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1357633X17745471
%X Clinically significant weight loss is defined as a ¡Ý5% of initial body weight loss within a 6-month period. The purpose of this study was to assess body weight change from a 12-week telehealth-based weight loss program that integrated health coaching via video conferencing. A total of 25 obese participants (12 males, 13 females) were recruited for this fully online 12-week weight loss program. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or control group (n£¿=£¿13 intervention, body mass index (BMI)£¿=£¿34.7£¿¡À£¿4.5£¿kg/m2; n£¿=£¿12 control, BMI£¿=£¿34.4£¿¡À£¿4.43£¿kg/m2). 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. Independent samples t-tests and Chi-square tests were used via SPSS version 24 with significance set to p£¿<£¿0.05. There was a significant difference between the intervention and control groups for body weight loss (7.3£¿¡À£¿5.2 versus 1.2£¿¡À£¿3.9£¿kg, respectively, p£¿<£¿0.05) as well as for percent body weight loss (7.16£¿¡À£¿4.4 versus 1.5£¿¡À£¿4.1%, respectively, p£¿<£¿0.05). Clinically significant weight loss was achieved in 9 out of 13 (69.2%) in the intervention group versus 1 out of 12 (8%) in the control group. Mobile phone-based health coaching may promote weight loss. Weekly video conferencing with education may be an applicable tool for inducing significant body weight loss in obese individuals
%K Ehealth
%K telehealth
%K online health
%K BMI
%K obesity
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1357633X17745471