Is improving mental health possible in digital weight management?

Mental health problems are more likely to occur with higher levels of obesity, and people with obesity are twice as likely to be depressed. This can affect their motivation and engagement with weight loss programmes, making it important to consider the whole person and not just the outcome of weight loss.

At Oviva, we understand the importance of addressing both behaviour change and mental health in our programmes for those living with obesity. By considering multiple perspectives and building behaviour change into everything we do, we strive to maximise engagement and motivation for our patients.

Last year we published a study demonstrating that by using a patient-centred approach which takes into consideration behavioural change science, ease of access, appropriate psyche and medicines management support, people with severe depression and anxiety can achieve similar weight loss outcomes as those without these conditions. We know that there appears to be a bi-directional link between depression and obesity (Luppino et al., 2010), and we were interested in understanding further how digital innovation can support people living with obesity from a psychological perspective.

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Outcomes

Participants reported a decrease in their average PHQ-9 score as they progressed through Oviva’s digital Tier 3 Weight Management programme, with a huge 48% of participants moving to a less severe depression category after 6 months.

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate the broader, holistic benefit Oviva’s programmes can have for participants. Oviva’s delivery model combines psychological intervention and behaviour change support with app technology. This remote blended-care approach is likely to have played a fundamental role in reducing depression symptoms in people with complex obesity, alongside significant reductions in their BMI and providing them with the tools to make sustainable changes to their diet and lifestyle.

It is encouraging for remote digital interventions, as the ease of access to care and convenience can increase uptake and engagement from traditionally under-represented groups, removing the barriers to access thereby tackling health inequalities. In addition, the positive holistic effects for participants identified here suggest that weight management services should target improvements in depression alongside other outcomes.

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• References

  Luppino, F.S., de Wit, L.M., Bouvy, P.F. et al. Over-weight, obesity, and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(3), 220–229.