Drivers of weight loss in a CDC-recognized digital diabetes prevention program

Abstract

Introduction To investigate the impact of the digital Livongo Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) on weight at 12 months, understand participants' self-monitoring behaviors associated with greater weight loss, and evaluate the impact of coaching interactions on more frequent self-monitoring behaviors. Research design and methods A retrospective analysis was performed using data from 2037 participants enrolled in the Livongo DPP who completed lesson 1 and recorded a starting weight during 2016-2017. Self-monitoring behaviors, including weigh-ins, food logging, activity, and coach-participant interactions, were analyzed at 6 and 12 months. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on those who were highly engaged versus those minimally engaged. Multiple regression analysis was performed using demographic, self-monitoring, and lesson attendance data to determine predictors of weight loss at 12 months and coaching impact on self-monitoring. Results Participants had a mean age of 50 years (SD ±12), with a starting weight of 94 kg (SD ±21), were college-educated (78%), and were female (74%). Overall, participants lost on average 5.1% of their starting weight. Highly engaged participants lost 6.6% of starting body weight, with 25% losing ≥10% at 12 months. Logistic regression analysis showed each submitted food log was associated with 0.23 kg (p<0.05) weight loss, each lesson completed was associated with 0.14 kg (p<0.05) weight loss, and a week of 150 active minutes was associated with 0.1 kg (p<0.01) weight loss. One additional coach-participant message each week was associated with 1.4 more food logs per week, 1.6% increase in weeks with four or more weigh-ins, and a 2.7% increase in weeks with 150 min of activity. Conclusions Food logging had the largest impact on weight loss, followed by lesson engagement and physical activity. Future studies should examine further opportunities to deliver nutrition-based content to increase and sustain weight loss for DPP.