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How to Generate Meaningful Engagement in GLP-1 Lifestyle Programs

By Sarah Linke, PhD, MPH

This edition covers:

  • The relationship between GLP-1 weight loss and patient engagement
  • What constitutes meaningful patient engagement
  • How to facilitate and sustain meaningful engagement to optimize outcomes

GLP-1s are game-changing drugs, but their price tag remains a challenge. As such, health plans, employers, and patients are looking for ways to increase their ROI — and with no price-drop in sight, outcomes are the best currency.

Because prescribing GLP-1s for weight loss is relatively new, few research studies have examined and published their weight-related outcomes. Unsurprisingly, a common element among those published studies is that they typically include a lifestyle component used in conjunction with weight loss medication. The synergy between digital lifestyle change programs and GLP-1 medications addresses the physiological, emotional, and behavioral aspects of weight loss. However, similar to taking the recommended dose of a medication, the patient reaps the most benefits when they engage with the program as intended.

A recent analysis by Omada Health and Express Scripts demonstrated that meaningful engagement in a virtual health behavior change program was associated with significantly greater weight loss when compared with limited program engagement among individuals taking GLP-1 medications. The analysis also found that certain types of program engagement, such as sending a message to your coach, posting on a peer discussion board, setting a goal, completing a lesson, stepping on the scale, and tracking a meal, were particularly predictive of greater weight loss over time.

These insights provide an opportunity to dive deeper into the role of patient engagement. If meaningful engagement in virtual behavior change programs improves GLP-1 outcomes, how can we facilitate that engagement? And more importantly, sustain it? It starts with structure, personalization, and social connection.

Structure

Providing a structured platform for individuals to acquire and practice skills, set goals, and track progress enables behavior change techniques that complement the pharmacological effects of GLP-1 medications.

Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals is a fundamental aspect of any successful weight loss journey.

A common feature of digital programs is allowing individuals to set personalized goals, aligning them with their health objectives. Whether it’s achieving a certain weight, adhering to medication schedules, or improving physical activity, the practice of SMART goal setting can enhance a patient’s motivation and focus.

Digital platforms equipped with food tracking features can empower individuals to monitor their nutritional intake, fostering awareness and accountability. This not only supports weight loss, but can also aid in optimizing the impact of GLP-1 medications via feedback that members receive from their coaches.

Personalization

Personalization ensures that the lifestyle changes align with the unique needs of each member, and the data suggest this makes the journey towards weight loss and medication adherence more effective.

To achieve this, program personalization utilizes a powerful combination of data and human-led coaching. In practice, data analytics informs recommendations based on individual progress and preferences, while coaches offer expertise, emotional support, motivation, and a tailored approach that addresses the unique challenges faced by each member. The one-on-one interaction with a coach enables culturally responsive care and cultivates a supportive relationship, empowering individuals to navigate the complexities of behavior change and medication management.

Social Connections

Shared experiences are extremely powerful in the context of health-related journeys. Health programs that incorporate social support networks demonstrate greater weight loss.

Health behaviors are also contagious: people “mirror” the diet and physical activity choices of those around them.

Peer interactions within digital platforms create a community of individuals on similar paths, allowing them to exchange insights and challenges and celebrate successes. This sense of camaraderie can instill a feeling of belonging in the context of individual-focused health-related endeavors. This collaborative learning environment also has the potential to enhance skill-building, as individuals benefit from the collective wisdom and experience of the group. 

In the pursuit of optimal and sustainable weight management, the collaboration between GLP-1 medications, lifestyle changes, and social support is a comprehensive approach that addresses both physiological and psychosocial aspects.

At Omada, the synthesis of personalized coaching and peer connections creates a robust support system that has the potential to enhance medication adherence and weight loss through meaningful program engagement. Integrating these elements enables Omada members to receive the benefits of pharmaceutical intervention and behavior change techniques as well as the transformative power of social support. Through this holistic approach, we can empower members to not only manage their conditions effectively, but also to thrive in a supportive community committed to well-being.