Psychosocial Outcomes in Telemedicine and Long‐Acting Incretin‐Specific Behavioral Intervention

ABSTRACT Background Newer generation anti‐obesity medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are highly efficacious, resulting in a proliferation of telehealth prescribers. Few, however, augment medication with a behavioral intervention, and little research has examined the impact of these medications on psychosocial variables. Objective This study evaluated the efficacy of a telehealth provision of semaglutide/tirzepatide with a virtual behavioral program on psychosocial outcomes at 12 and 24 weeks. Methods In this single‐arm pragmatic trial, 180 participants (M age = 44.1; 91% female; 81% white; M weight = 102.6 kgs) were recruited from a telemedicine obesity program (WeightWatchers Clinic) and offered an adjunctive virtual behavioral program tailored for patients on long‐acting incretin therapy. Participants completed the PHQ‐8 measuring depression, Perceived Stress Scale, Self‐Compassion Scale, WHO‐5 measuring well‐being, Weight Bias Internalization Scale‐2F and Impact of Weight on Quality of Life‐Lite at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests were conducted to evaluate outcome differences. p values were adjusted using a False Discovery Rate approach. Intent‐to‐treat analysis was performed using last observation carried forward (LOCF). Results There were significant improvements from median baseline to 24 weeks in measures of depression (−2), perceived stress (−3), well‐being (3), weight bias internalization (−0.6), and impact of weight on quality of life (−18). All p 's < 0.001 in the baseline to 24‐week analyses with similar results shown at 12 weeks. Conclusions Virtually delivered obesity treatment combining telemedicine and a long‐acting incretin‐specific behavioral program demonstrated clinically significant improvements in psychosocial outcomes over 24 weeks.