Strategies for long-term success and patient engagement

Weight gain is likely when patients stop taking a GLP-1 therapy. A2022 study found patients who took the GLP-1 semaglutide had regained two thirds of their prior weight and had similar cardiometabolic changes a year after stopping the medication. These medications are typically not intended for lifelong use, so care teams should help patients build a routine from the start of their journey to maintain weight loss after medication. Some patients may stop the medication early due to a prescriber recommendation, severe side effects, or the cost or inconvenience of receiving weekly injections. This is why GLP 1 remote patient monitoring is essential for the success of the program.

Prescribers at doctor’s offices and virtual weight loss programs should track patients throughout their journey and when they stop taking GLP-1s. The monitoring of daily progress provides long-term oversight of weight loss goals and maintenance.

“Regular communication and motivation are crucial to helping patients stay on track. The health data Withings devices can capture on a regular basis has helped our Care Teams better monitor patient progress and provide personalized care,” said Lauren Lemieux, MD, FACP, Dipl. ABOM at FORM.

Withings’ newest cellular body composition scale introduces Health Nudges, a first-ever patient engagement feature that delivers messages from a patient’s care team to the screen of their scale. Health Nudges keeps patients engaged by highlighting milestones and sharing health reminders. For example, patients may receive kudos when they reach a particular goal or as an encouragement to keep going on their health journey.

Avoid weight cycling

Only about one third of people can safely come off GLP-1 without gaining the weight back. Many people who struggle with their weight are familiar with the yo-yo experience of repeatedly losing weight and gaining it back. This is a risk when starting and stopping GLP-1 agonists.

Weight cycling isn’t just tough on a patient’s psyche. Medical experts have found it’s bad for your health. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that continual fluctuations in weight can strain the cardiometabolic system. That’s why care teams need GLP 1 remote patient monitoring and access to long-term patient health data — so they can recognize patterns and make necessary early interventions.

Tracking for added protection

GLP-1 agonists are still relatively new — the first medications were FDA approved in 2005. Although they are approved for people diagnosed with obesity, an increasing number of medical centers are prescribing them off-label for weight loss. Some physicians caution that there isn’t enough data to know if this is safe. By closely tracking body composition, care teams can gain valuable insights into how the medications are affecting patients on a daily basis.

Additionally, daily tracking of metrics such as weight trends, blood pressure, and sleep patterns is now possible through Withings’ full suite of at-home devices. This clinically validated data provides invaluable clues about patients’ health challenges, which can power care teams’ decisions over time.

Setting patients up for long-term success

Patients who use medication as a quick fix and don’t establish healthy habits are likely to regain the weight. It’s crucial to have a day-to-day perspective on the effects of drug and health habits on a patient’s body, for many reasons:

1. Demonstrating the medication’s efficacy
2. Protecting patients from side effects like muscle loss
3. Keeping patients engaged in their health journey

Ultimately, having regular insight into a patient’s progress and struggles helps care teams support them — and this gives them the best chance of long-term success.

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