Duration of Treatment in a Weight Loss Program Using a Mobile App is Associated with Successful Weight Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Yu-Cheng Cheng,1,2 Hsiu-Chen Liu,3 Chiann-Yi Hsu,4 I-Te Lee1,2,5 1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, 407, Taiwan; 2School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan; 3Department of Nursing, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, 407, Taiwan; 4Biostatistics Task Force of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, 407, Taiwan; 5School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 402, TaiwanCorrespondence: I-Te Lee, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 1650, Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Taichung City, 40705, Taiwan, Tel +886-4-23592525 ext. 3060, Fax +886-4-23593662, Email itlee@vghtc.gov.twPurpose: We aimed to explore the independent factors associated with successful weight loss using a mobile app during the COVID-19 pandemic.Patients and Methods: For this retrospective cohort study, we collected data from 45 adults in a weight loss program using a mobile app. We defined successful weight loss as a weight reduction by ≥ 5% of the baseline weight. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to assess potential factors influencing successful weight loss.Results: All subjects showed a mean 4.1 ± 4.4 kg reduction of baseline weight after using the app for a mean duration of 11 weeks (P < 0.001). Subjects in the successful weight loss group displayed a longer duration of treatment (14.6 ± 6.5 weeks vs 6.9 ± 6.0 weeks, P < 0.001), greater number of dietary records (109.2 ± 84.7 vs 54.7 ± 58.8, P = 0.002), and greater number of outpatient visits (6.1 ± 2.7 vs 3.7 ± 2.3, P < 0.001) than those in the unsuccessful weight loss group. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that duration of treatment was an independent factor associated with successful weight loss (odds ratio = 1.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.08– 1.41, P = 0.003).Conclusion: In a weight management program using a mobile app during the COVID-19 pandemic, the duration of treatment was found to be an independent factor of successful weight loss.Keywords: weight loss, mobile app, person-to-person feedback, COVID-19, diet tracking, real-life practice