Impact of a digital employer-based weight loss program on individuals age 65 or older

TL;DR

A digital weight loss program helped older adults lose weight, with males losing more than females, even with chronic health conditions.

Contribution

Demonstrates effectiveness of a low-touch digital weight loss program for older adults with chronic conditions.

Findings

Average weight loss of 3.15 kg in older adults over 15.5 weeks using a digital program.

Males lost significantly more weight than females despite similar engagement.

Weight loss was significant across all age groups and health conditions.

Abstract

Older adults are not protected from obesity, which has been linked to frailty, cognitive impairment, and other aging-related factors. Intensive lifestyle interventions have been shown to be effective for weight loss in older adults; however, these have typically been highly intensive and less feasible for dissemination. This analysis describes weight loss in a large-scale, commercially available, digital intervention in a subset of older adults.

Older adults (N = 20,443, males = 6,238; females = 14,205) between 65 and 85 years of age with overweight (43.3%) or obesity (46.7%) participated in an online, self-directed weight loss program. Behavioral-based content was delivered through weekly video lessons within an online platform that included weight and physical activity tracking, an online community, a reference library, and access to coaching support. Self-reported measures taken at the time of entry into the program were used for this analysis (demographics, height, body weight, and health status). Weight was reported across weeks of engagement in the curriculum.

The average weight loss was −3.15 kg (95% CI: [−3.20, −3.11]) at 15.5 weeks. Weight loss was significantly greater in male individuals (−3.79 kg [95% CI: −3.89, −3.71]) versus female individuals (−2.87 kg [95% CI: −2.94, −2.82]) (p < 0.001), with a similar engagement in curriculum weeks. Percent weight loss was statistically significant for all age categories (p < 0.05) and self-reported health conditions (p < 0.05).

Short-term weight loss was observed in older adults exposed to a low-touch, self-guided, and digital behavioral-based weight loss program. Weight loss was also observed even in the presence of various chronic health conditions.

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