Telemedical coaching for weight loss in overweight employees: a three-armed randomised controlled trial

Objectives: We examined the effect of a telemedical coaching (TMC) programme accompanied with or without telemonitoring on weight loss in an occupational healthcare setting with a three-armed randomised controlled trial (NCT01837134 'Pre-results').

Methods: Overweight employees (n=104, body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m²) were invited by their medical corporate department and randomised into either a TMC group (n=34) or in one of the two control groups (C1, n=34; C2, n=36). TMC and C1 were equipped with telemonitoring devices (scales and pedometers) at baseline, and C2 after 6 months. Telemonitoring devices automatically transferred data into a personalised online portal. TMC was coached with weekly care calls in months 3-6 and monthly calls from months 7 to 12. C2 had a short coaching phase in months 6-9. C1 received no further support. After the 12-month intervention phase, participants could take advantage of further company health promotion offers. Follow-up data were determined after 12 months of intervention and per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses were performed. Weight change was followed up after 36 months. Estimated treatment difference (ETD) was calculated for weight reduction.

Results: ETD from TMC to C1 (-3.6 kg 95% CI -7.40 to -0.1, p=0.047) and to C2 (-4.2 kg [-7.90 to -0.5], p=0.026) was significantly different at the 12 months follow-up in the PP-analysis, but lost significance in the ITT analysis. All groups reduced weight after 12 months (-3.3 to -8.4 kg [5.5-10.3 kg], all p<0.01) and sustained it during the 36 months follow-up (-4.8 to -7.8 kg [5.6-12.8 kg], all p<0.01). ETD analyses revealed no difference between all groups neither in the PP nor in the ITT analysis at the 3 years follow-up. All groups reduced BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and improved eating behaviour in the PP or ITT analyses.

Conclusions: TMC and/or telemonitoring support long-term weight reduction in overweight employees. The combination of both interventions points towards an additional effect.

Trial registration number: NCT01837134.