Obesity is a significant public health challenge in the United States, with widespread implications for individual health and the healthcare system. Managing obesity effectively requires innovative solutions that address the growing demand for care. Remote weight monitoring and telehealth programs have emerged as a practical approach to enhancing obesity care. By integrating digital scales and virtual appointments, healthcare providers can monitor patient progress, identify challenges, and adjust treatment plans in real-time, bridging gaps in traditional care delivery.
Remote Weight Monitoring and Obesity Management
Obesity costs the U.S. healthcare system roughly $173 billion annually, and it is linked to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. All of these diseases are the leading causes of preventable, premature death. Data from the CDC reveals that from 1999–2018, obesity prevalence increased from 30.5% to 42.4%, while severe obesity nearly doubled from 4.7% to 9.2%.
The increasing prevalence of obesity coincides with a projected shortage of primary care physicians, estimated to range between 21,000 and 55,000 by 2033. This shortage underscores the need for scalable solutions, like remote weight monitoring, to manage obesity and its associated chronic diseases effectively.
Primary care physicians often face significant challenges in delivering effective obesity care. Limited time during appointments, lack of specialized training, and insufficient resources contribute to these barriers. A review of obesity interventions highlighted that combining in-person visits with remote monitoring and telehealth services is more effective than traditional care alone, offering a more comprehensive approach to managing obesity.
Obesity is among the most undertreated chronic diseases despite its profound impact on health. Between 2011 and 2018, only 40% of adults with obesity reported receiving weight loss counseling from their physician. Studies show that patients who receive such counseling are more likely to attempt weight loss. Telehealth and remote weight monitoring can help overcome access barriers and deliver intensive behavioral interventions essential for long-term success.
How Remote Weight Monitoring Can Help with Long-Term Obesity Management
Remote patient monitoring allows patients to manage their condition from home. Remote weight monitoring works well when combined with telehealth visits that focus on the review of behavior changes, weight loss progress, barriers, and medication monitoring.
Evidence shows that telemedicine interventions for weight loss provide meaningful clinical improvements in body weight, physical activity, and nutrition. A digital remote weight monitoring scale is used in remote weight monitoring. It automatically transmits patient weight measurements to their physician wirelessly. Remote weight monitoring scales are used in hospitals, patient homes, and assisted living environments. These remote patient monitoring devices assist in treatment planning in the following ways.
- Monitor the patient’s weight
- Track changes in patient weight
- Alert healthcare providers of sudden weight gain or loss
- Allow for medication and treatment plan adjustment
- Identify signs of related health concerns
- Understand nutrition and hydration levels
- Spot nutritional deficiencies
Treatment Plans in Obesity and Associated Chronic Diseases
Treatment for obesity includes remote patient monitoring for weight loss programs that encourage weight management through healthy eating, physical activity, and lifestyle changes. However, some people with obesity cannot lose enough weight or are unable to keep from regaining weight. In addition, the human body sometimes develops specific mechanisms that resist weight loss, which can challenge weight loss and maintenance.
Therefore, a physician might suggest other treatments, such as weight-loss medicines, medical devices, or bariatric surgery, to lower the chances of developing chronic diseases related to obesity. In addition, remote patient monitoring can track multiple vital signs in comorbid chronic diseases like diabetes, congestive heart failure, or obesity.
Telehealth & Remote Weight Monitoring: Aids in Long-Term Obesity Management
In a single-center study, 99 patients using telemedicine technology showed a significant BMI reduction compared to the control group at the end of 3 and 6 months. Additionally, at the end of 6 months, the telemedicine group showed a significant decrease in postprandial blood glucose, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and a waist-to-hip ratio.
Remote weight monitoring and telehealth weight-management programs are showing significant benefits for patients with barriers to care. Such Barriers may include the following:
- Living in rural and medically underserved communities
- Shortage of obesity specialists
- Lack of comprehensive treatment programs
For example, nearly 95% of patients in a behavioral weight program offered in seven primary care practices in South Carolina reported that they would only have been able to participate in a weight-management program with telemedicine.
Remote Weight Monitoring Improved Patient Outcomes & Treatment Adherence
Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring allow physicians to connect with patients digitally and help support patient treatment plans. Remote weight monitoring devices like digital scales, smartphones, pedometers, and accelerometers can help with treatment adherence and better patient outcomes. The patient’s weight data is instantly digitally transmitted to a physician, and the data is used to monitor the patient’s health over time. This allows healthcare professionals to track their patient’s progress and make any necessary adjustments to treatment plans.
Tracking of chronic conditions related to obesity, such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, and high blood pressure, can be fulfilled with remote patient monitoring devices such as a wireless blood pressure meter, remote blood glucose meter, and a pulse oximeter.
Furthermore, physicians can quickly access all patient vital sign data from anywhere to make patient care decisions. These connected health devices also set thresholds to alert them of any changes in patient condition. The daily data allows the patient to see how lifestyle adjustments affect their weight, blood pressure, and glucose, engaging the patient in managing their health.
A systematic review of remote patient monitoring via non-invasive digital technologies showed that taking blood pressure and tracking weight has been shown to help with symptom severity and reduce patient visits and hospitalizations. This is important because 75 percent of healthcare expenditures come from the 100 million Americans with chronic conditions. Remote patient monitoring substantially lowers healthcare spending for patients and healthcare systems.
Telehealth & Remote Weight Monitoring Key Points
Using a remote patient monitoring program to track a patient’s weight-loss progress continuously can help to prevent weight gain and life-threatening medical complications. Remote weight monitoring aids in long-term obesity management, keeping patients and practitioners well-informed, and helps both parties gain insight into weight gain and loss concerns. Likewise, remote weight monitoring helps primary care physicians create customized weight management plans.
Tenovi remote patient monitoring offers remote weight scales that are accurate and easy to use. Our solutions boost workflow efficiency, patient satisfaction, and revenue. You can book a free RPM demo today.
