Weight loss outcomes with telemedicine during COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Background: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was a strategy to expand patient care during quarantine. However, there is little data on how this transition may have impacted weight loss outcomes and practices among patients with overweight/obesity. Methods: This retrospective observational study of adults who established care at the Weill Cornell Comprehensive Weight Control Center during September-November 2019 and May-July 2020 explored weight loss outcomes and weight management practices over 6 months of follow-up. Results: Of 516 charts eligible for review, 245 (47.5%) were included for analysis after excluding patients who failed to return for a follow-up visit within 6 ± 3 months or who were missing relevant data. Of 245 patients, 69 had in-person visits only ('in-person'), 91 had video visits only ('video'), and 85 started in-person and later switched to video visits ('hybrid'). All cohorts were predominantly white and female. Median ages were 56, 49, and 49 years, and baseline median weights were 98.9, 96.8, and 93.0kg for in-person, video, and hybrid cohorts, respectively. The median percent weight losses were not significantly different among cohorts 4.3% [-8.5, -1.5] in the in-person cohort, 5.8% [-9.7, -2.4] in the video cohort, and 5.7% [-8.7, -2.2] in the hybrid group. The percent of patients who achieved ≥5% weight loss were also similar 46.4%, 59.3%, and 55.3%, respectively. The median number of visits were 4 [3,4] for the in-person cohort, 4 [3,6] for the hybrid cohort, and 5 [4,7] for the video visit cohort. Median number of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) prescribed was 1 [1,2] for the in-person cohort and 2 [1, 2] for both the hybrid and video cohorts. The most common AOMs were metformin (all cohorts) followed by semaglutide (in-person and video) or topiramate (hybrid). Conclusions: Video visits are an effective weight management strategy and require further exploration to compare to in-person care.