The effectiveness of telemedicine for weight management in the MOVE! Program.
PURPOSE
To examine the effectiveness of videoconferencing technology for delivering comprehensive weight management treatment.


METHODS
This retrospective cohort study was conducted by extraction of data from medical records for the years 2008-2010. The treatment included a series of 12 weekly MOVE!® classes delivered using videoconferencing. Data were extracted from the time of baseline weight to 1 year after baseline weight for the MOVE! participants (n = 60) and from a concurrent control group (n = 60) that did not participate in MOVE! treatment.


FINDINGS
Results indicated that the MOVE! group lost weight while the control group gained weight, resulting in a mean difference between the groups of -5.5 ± 2.7 kg (95% CI = -8.0 to -3.0; P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that videoconferencing is an effective method to provide the MOVE! Weight Management Program to veterans. Weight loss was maintained for one year after baseline in the MOVE! group. This is very promising as weight re-gain is a common issue and these results support using videoconferencing for a long-term weight management treatment option.
['Ahrendt|April D|AD|', 'Kattelmann|Kendra K|KK|', 'Rector|Thomas S|TS|', 'Maddox|David A|DA|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D005260:Female D006293:Health Promotion D006801:Humans D007484:Iowa D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009765:Obesity D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care D012189:Retrospective Studies D013023:South Dakota D014728:Veterans D049269:Videoconferencing
telemedicine videoconferencing weight loss health promotion obesity