One of our proudest accomplishments at BodyMedia is our commitment to clinical research and backing up our product and efficacy claims. We recently released two new studies that join our growing body of clinical research, which now includes over 150 publications in peer-reviewed journals (or presented at reputable scientific meetings).
It’s important to us to be a trusted partner so users and industry partners know we can back up our claims. Thus, they know they are choosing an option that has been studied and proven, which can be helpful on the wallet. The results of our clinical studies show we have the potential to make a significant contribution to the ongoing healthcare dialogue as we are looking at relevant topics like outcomes, retention rates and other significant issues facing healthcare, like the mounting costs of treatment.
When you couple the steep costs of weight loss intervention programs with the high cost to treat obesity (estimated to be $2700/year), it’s evident that we need to create new, affordable interventions and give healthcare professionals new models and options. In a recent study, BodyMedia technology was shown to be THE most cost effective vs. four other weight loss approaches. The same study also showed that the BodyMedia Armband system enables more weight loss per dollar than other interventions.
Recently presented at the American College of Sports Medicine, the study, “An Economic Analysis of Traditional and Technology-Based Approaches to Weight Loss: LEAN Study Cost-Effectiveness,” calculated the cost of all four approaches in terms of the ratio of weight loss to staff time and materials. The cost for armband users was $51 per participant per kilogram lost – less than half of the $129 associated with group weight loss education. Detailed results of this study will be published in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The second study that was recently published in The Obesity Journal addresses other critical questions in weight loss and lifestyle management, how can we build programs that keep people engaged to get results. As the market has become saturated with new programs, knowing what types of interventions are effective and engaging will yield more positive weight loss outcomes and motivate users.
The results of the Comparison of a Technology-Based System and an In-Person Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention illustrate a successful model for weight loss for in-person intervention as well as with minimal in-person contact in conjunction with the Armband. Participants that wore the Armband with phone and e-mail support lost an average of 12 pounds. The study showed that those in the face-to-face group intervention program have a 100% retention rate over six months and lost an average of 19 pounds.
We are pleased to contribute this research to the obesity dialogue and further solidify the importance of technology-based solutions to address some of the relevant and pressing issues that the industry is facing.
Categories: General.
