About The Study: A wireless feedback system (Wi-Fi activity tracker and scale with smartphone app to provide daily feedback) was not noninferior to the same system with added coaching. Continued efforts are needed to identify strategies for weight loss management and to accurately select interventions for different individuals to achieve weight loss goals.
Quote from corresponding author Bonnie Spring, Ph.D.:
“With U.S. obesity prevalence projected to reach 49% by 2030, limited obesity treatment resources need to be spread across more of the population. One promising approach is stepped care that begins with low cost, self-monitoring technology alone, then intensifies treatment for those who show insufficient response.
“It has been unknown whether first line technology treatment alone could produce clinically acceptable weight loss. In an adaptive randomized noninferiority trial, people who initially only received technology without coach support were less likely to achieve meaningful weight loss (5% of body weight), compared to those who had a human coach at the start.
“Currently, a human coach remains needed from the outset of obesity treatment because digital technology alone doesn’t produce clinically acceptable weight loss for most people.”
Contact information for Dr. Spring: email bspring@northwestern.edu.
(doi:10.1001/jama.2024.0821)
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Media advisory: The study is being released to coincide with the European Congress on Obesity.
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JAMA