Boost Weight Loss in US Veterans with Remote Tech & Peer Support

A Revolutionary Weight Loss Solution for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness

For veterans grappling with both obesity and serious mental illness, a new 6-month weight loss program known as CoachToFit (CTF) could be the solution you’ve been waiting for. This revolutionary program, based on recent studies published in JAMA Psychiatry, is showing promising results.

A Weight Loss Program Tailored for Veterans

This unique weight loss management method has been specifically designed for veterans dealing with serious mental illness. It offers an innovative approach compared to what the general veteran population typically receives.

A single-site randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04560335) conducted at the Pittsburgh Veteran Affairs hospital health care system has shown promising results with this program. Veterans who have a BMI of at least 30, own a phone, and have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or major depressive disorder (MDD) participated in the study. These diagnoses followed the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes.

CoachToFit: Emphasizing Remote Technologies and Paraprofessionals

The CTF weight loss program employs remote technologies and the support of paraprofessionals to effectively help veterans lose weight. The program includes a smartphone application that provides health education and tracks steps, goals, and weight, a Bluetooth-enabled scale and fitness tracker, and weekly calls from a Veteran Health Administration peer specialist.

Primary Study Outcomes: Weight Loss and Increased Fitness

The main objectives of this study were to monitor changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), and cardiorespiratory fitness, which was measured with a 6-minute walk distance. In total, 256 veterans (mean age, 53.5 years; 68.8% men; 69.5% White) participated in the study.

Results: Significant Weight Loss in the CTF Group

After 6 months in the program, the study revealed that the CTF group experienced greater mean weight loss compared to the standard-care group. It was also observed that more participants in the CTF group experienced reductions of at least 5% and 7% of their body weight at 6 months compared to those in the standard-care group.

Though the study faced certain limitations such as a single-center design and an underpowered sample size, the results have been encouraging. As noted by the researchers, “a weight loss program tailored to veterans with [serious mental illness] using remote technologies and paraprofessionals demonstrated the potential to help this population lose weight.” They further added that “the initial outcomes are promising and warrant further study in broader populations and over longer durations.”