Success and failures of telehealth during COVID-19 should inform digital applications to combat obesity

Joseph R Vasselli; Susan Juray; Steven E Trasino

doi:10.1002/osp4.551

Success and failures of telehealth during COVID-19 should inform digital applications to combat obesity

Obes Sci Pract. 2021 Aug 19;8(2):254-258. doi: 10.1002/osp4.551. eCollection 2022 Apr.

Authors

Joseph R Vasselli¹, Susan Juray^{2

3}, Steven E Trasino²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Human Nutrition Columbia University New York New York USA.
² Nutrition Program School of Urban Public Health Hunter College City University of New York New York New York USA.
³ Clinical Nutrition Department Mount Sinai New York New York USA.

Abstract

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth digital applications (apps) permitted the delivery of health care to millions of individuals, including those with poor access to health services.

Aim: To review a body of evidence demonstrating that telehealth and mobile health (mHealth) apps can promote clinically meaningful weight loss, and thus hold potential to increase access to treatment and weight loss care for individuals suffering from obesity.

Results: Data from COVID-19 pandemic revealed that access to telehealth and mHealth remains a challenge for underserved communities that are disproportionately affected by obesity.

Conclusions: The development of telehealth and mHealth for obesity treatment must be informed by the success and failures of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Failure to do so, risks alienating the very populations that stand most to benefit from telehealth and mHealth apps for obesity treatment.

Keywords: COVID‐19; behavioral support; mHealth; obesity; technology; telemedicine; web.