why choose us

300×250 Ad Slot

Research Article: Comparison of a Telehealth-Based Intensive Treatment Program with a Rewarding App vs. On-Site Care for Youth with Obesity: A Historical Cohort Study

Date Published: 2023-06-27

Abstract:
The recommended treatment for children with obesity includes numerous consultations by a multidisciplinary team, which is very cumbersome. Telehealth can assist in administering frequent care to children with obesity, yet the exact approaches and modes of delivery are still explored. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed an intensive telehealth-based treatment program that included a rewarding app for children with obesity. The aim of this study was to compare 6-month changes in body mass index (BMI) and body fat percent between participants in the program (n = 70) vs. children that underwent historic on-site care (n = 87). After 6 months, more participants in the telehealth group continued treatment compared to the on-site group (79% vs. 60%, p < 0.001). A significant reduction in the median BMI z-score (zBMI) was seen after 6 months in both groups (p < 0.01), with a similar proportion of zBMI reductions (71% in the telehealth group, 75% in the comparison group, p = 0.76). No statistically significant differences were found between the study groups in 6-month changes in BMI, zBMI, body fat percent or fat z-scores. We conclude that our telehealth program, which was executed during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in a high proportion of children with zBMI reduction that was comparable with the more personal on-site care.

Introduction:
The global number of children and adolescents with obesity increased 11-fold over the passing decades, from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2016 [1]. The World Obesity Federation predicted that this number would continue to rise, from 158 million in 2020 to 258 million by 2030 [2]. The medical burden of both pediatric and adulthood obesity is well-known and includes numerous psychological and medical complications [3,4]. Treating children with obesity is, hence, essential for both body and mind, present and…

Read more

300×250 Ad Slot