Background:

GLP-1 medications have rapidly changed the obesity treatment landscape. However, innovative solutions could help individuals optimize the benefits of GLP-1 treatment. We evaluated interest in, engagement with, and impact of a GLP-1 focused track for individuals initiating GLP-1 treatment within the context of a virtual health program.

Methods:

New and existing program members with elevated BMI (≥ 27), prediabetes, hypertension, and/or dyslipidemia, who were initiating a new course of GLP-1 treatment were offered the opportunity to opt in to a GLP-1 Care Track. All members who opted into the GLP-1 Care Track received a 12-week curriculum tailored to GLP-1-specific concerns and access to a dedicated health coach, a dedicated clinical specialist, and an activity coach, followed by usual care. During a different enrollment period, a usual care cohort of members who met the same inclusion criteria received a standard virtual care program with a health coach but no GLP-1 specific content, no involvement from a clinical specialist (except in limited circumstances for members with hypertension), no GLP-1 focused clinical support, and no activity coach. Outcome assessment, which is ongoing, includes self-reported survey data; health/activity data collected from peripheral devices; and passively collected program engagement metrics.

Results:

A total of 2,543 members met GLP-1 Care Track eligibility criteria; 1,915 (75.3%) opted into the GLP-1 Care Track and 1,079 usual care members enrolled in the standard care program. Across both groups, members were, on average, 44.5 (SD=10.3) years of age, 70.2% white, 83.0% Female, and had an average baseline BMI of 37.8 (SD=7.4). On average each week over the first five weeks of the program, members in the GLP-1 Care Track logged into the app 29.3% more times, completed 22.6% more weekly lessons, weighed in 9.9% more times, sent 54.0% more messages to their care teams, and lost 24.2% more weight compared with members in the usual care cohort (all p<0.001), who had also initiated GLP-1 treatment.

Conclusion:

Preliminary findings suggest individuals are interested in GLP-1 focused virtual companion programs and that engaging with these tailored programs may support greater weight loss compared with standard virtual care programs. These programs provide health behavior focused strategies that may improve mental and physical outcomes in this rapidly growing population.

Check out the updated 4-month outcomes for this analysis in our latest paper.