DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADULT OBESITY TREATMENT IN THE GLP-1 ERA: A STRUCTURED REVIEW OF EFFECTIVENESS, ADHERENCE, EQUITY, AND HEALTH-SYSTEM INTEGRATION

Aleksander Krupski; Michał  Marusza; Victoria Stielow; Antonina Zatyka

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5425

Authors

Aleksander Krupski MD, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6432-4982
Michał Marusza MD, National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0065-9928
Victoria Stielow Faculty of Medicine, Lazarski University, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0954-0918
Antonina Zatyka Faculty of Medicine, Lazarski University, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7849-6978

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5425

Keywords:

Obesity; Digital Health; Telemedicine; GLP-1 Receptor Agonists; Health Systems

Abstract

Obesity requires long-term support and treatment by multiple healthcare professionals. The disease is also becoming more prevalent in an era of digital models for delivering health-care services, organizing services and promoting health equity. This article presents an evaluation of recently published studies pertaining to the use of digital technologies in treating adult obesity regarding clinical outcomes, patients' ability to adhere to their care plan and become engaged in their own healthcare, increased availability of obesity services, reduction of health disparities and whether or how such technologies can be effectively incorporated within currently operating health systems during the GLP-1 era. The primary database searched was PubMed, although NICE guidance for clinical practice was also referenced as well as a backward citation search. The research focused on adult clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, pragmatic trials, high-quality real-world data from adults with BMI that is classified as obese or overweight. There are several telehealth, health apps, wearable devices, home based remote monitoring, hybrid delivery methods to support obesity treatments. However, the effectiveness for each type of intervention varies depending on how the intervention was designed, how long participants were followed continuously, and how engaged participants remained throughout the entire time.

References

Adebile, T. V., Adebile, T. M., Oloyede, T. F., Asifat, O. A., Biswas, P., Sejoro, S., & Kersey, J. X. (2025). Telemedicine for obesity management among United States adults: A systematic and meta-analysis of intervention studies. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 31(8), 1078–1090. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X241247240

Ard, J. D., Lewis, K. H., & Moore, J. B. (2024). Lifestyle interventions for obesity in the era of GLP-1 receptor agonists. JAMA, 332(1), 16–18. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.7062

Aukan, M. I., Larsen, M. A., Melan, T. I., & Salvesen, Ø. O. (2025). Beyond weight loss: Digital therapeutic for behavioral change and psychological well-being for individuals with overweight and obesity in a primary healthcare setting—A randomized controlled pilot study. Frontiers in Digital Health, 7, Article 1671649. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1671649

Bertoli, S., Capodaglio, P., Colosimo, S., De Amicis, R. S., Gilardini, L., Bruno, A., Mambrini, S. P., Pietrabissa, G., Cavaggioni, L., Castelnuovo, G., & Piazzolla, G. (2025). Effectiveness of a digital therapy on 6-month weight loss in people with obesity: The Digital Therapy to Promote Weight Loss in Patients With Obesity by Increasing Their Adherence to Treatment (DEMETRA) randomized clinical trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, Article e72054. https://doi.org/10.2196/72054

Celletti, F., Farrar, J., & De Regil, L. (2026). World Health Organization guideline on the use and indications of glucagon-like peptide-1 therapies for the treatment of obesity in adults. JAMA, 335(5), 434–438. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.24288

Cheah, K. J., Abdul Manaf, Z., Mat Ludin, A. F., & Razalli, N. H. (2024). Potential role of hybrid weight management intervention: A scoping review. Digital Health, 10, Article 20552076241258366. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241258366

Chiavarini, M., Giacchetta, I., Rosignoli, P., & Fabiani, R. (2025). E-health and m-health in obesity management: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Nutrients, 17(13), Article 2200. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132200

Colaone, E., Belluzzi, E., Pozzuoli, A., Roma, E., Bortolato, E., Biz, C., & Ruggieri, P. (2025). Effectiveness of telemedicine nursing interventions in the management of overweight and obesity in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Current Obesity Reports, 14(1), Article 63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-025-00655-7

Couto, F. da F. S., & Almeida, C. P. B. de. (2025). Mobile and web apps for weight management in overweight and obese adults: An updated umbrella review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(7), Article 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071152

Elmaleh-Sachs, A., Schwartz, J. L., Bramante, C. T., Nicklas, J. M., Gudzune, K. A., & Jay, M. (2023). Obesity management in adults: A review. JAMA, 330(20), 2000–2015. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.19897

Garvey, W. T., Batterham, R. L., Bhatta, M., Buscemi, S., Christensen, L. N., Frias, J. P., Jódar, E., Kandler, K., Rigas, G., Wadden, T. A., Wharton, S., & Pedersen, S. D. (2022). Two-year effects of semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity: The STEP 5 trial. Nature Medicine, 28(10), 2083–2091. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02026-4

Ghosh, J., Gudzune, K. A., & Schwartz, J. L. (2025). Electronic health records tools for treating obesity among adult patients in primary care: A scoping review. Obesity Pillars, 13, Article 100161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100161

Gleason, P. P., Urick, B. Y., Marshall, L. Z., Friedlander, N., Qiu, Y., & Leslie, R. S. (2024). Real-world persistence and adherence to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists among obese commercially insured adults without diabetes. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 30(8), 860–867. https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2024.23332

Hassan, A., Breare, H., Rollo, M. E., Mullan, B. A., Pollard, C. M., Kerr, D. A., Dhaliwal, S. S., & Begley, A. (2026). Effectiveness of digital health interventions on body weight and dietary intake outcomes among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Indigenous populations: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 27(3), Article e70035. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.70035

Johnson, H., Huang, D., Liu, V., Al Ammouri, M., Jacobs, C., & El-Osta, A. (2025). Impact of digital engagement on weight loss outcomes in obesity management among individuals using GLP-1 and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist therapy: Retrospective cohort service evaluation study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, Article e69466. https://doi.org/10.2196/69466

Lautenbach, A., Blüher, M., Mijuskovic, A., Jones, L., & Schirmann, F. (2026). Efficacy of a digital health application for weight management in people with obesity: 6-month results from a randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Obesity, 50(2), 466–473. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01967-3

Li, S., Zhou, Y., Tang, Y., Ma, H., Zhang, Y., Wang, A., Tang, X., Pei, R., & Piao, M. (2025). Behavior change resources used in mobile app-based interventions addressing weight, behavioral, and metabolic outcomes in adults with overweight and obesity: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 13, Article e63313. https://doi.org/10.2196/63313

Mathioudakis, N., Lalani, B., Abusamaan, M. S., Alderfer, M., Alver, D., Dobs, A., Kane, B., McGready, J., Riekert, K., Ringham, B., Shehadeh, A., Vandi, F., Wanigatunga, A. A., Zade, D., & Maruthur, N. M. (2025). An AI-powered lifestyle intervention vs human coaching in the Diabetes Prevention Program: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 334(23), 2079–2089. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.19563

Metzendorf, M.-I., Wieland, L. S., & Richter, B. (2024). Mobile health (m-health) smartphone interventions for adolescents and adults with overweight or obesity. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2024(2), Article CD013591. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013591.pub2

Mozaffarian, D., Agarwal, M., Aggarwal, M., Alexander, L., Apovian, C. M., Bindlish, S., Bonnet, J., Butsch, W. S., Christensen, S., Gianos, E., Gulati, M., Gupta, A., Horn, D., Kane, R. M., Saluja, J., Sannidhi, D., Stanford, F. C., & Callahan, E. A. (2025). Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: A joint advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. Obesity, 33(8), 1475–1503. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.24336

Motevalli, M., Drenowatz, C., Tanous, D., Ruedl, G., Kirschner, W., Schauer, M., Rosemann, T., & Wirnitzer, K. (2025). Guideline-based digital exercise interventions for reducing body weight and fat and promoting physical activity in adults with overweight and obesity: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Interactive Journal of Medical Research, 14, Article e73656. https://doi.org/10.2196/73656

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2024). Digital technologies for delivering multidisciplinary weight-management services: Early value assessment (HTG700). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/htg700

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2025). Overweight and obesity management (NG246). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng246

Nunns, M., Febrey, S., Abbott, R., Buckland, J., Whear, R., Shaw, L., Bethel, A., Boddy, K., Thompson Coon, J., & Melendez-Torres, G. J. (2025). Evaluation of the aspects of digital interventions that successfully support weight loss: Systematic review with component network meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, Article e65443. https://doi.org/10.2196/65443

Palacios, A. M., Lee, A. M., Parker, C., Watts, C. Q., Dickinson, S. L., Henschel, B., Anderson, G., Kersey, J. X., Allison, D. B., Foster, G. D., & Cardel, M. I. (2025). Effectiveness of a digital weight management program on diet quality: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 122(3), 830–840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.06.024

Pujia, C., Ferro, Y., Mazza, E., Maurotti, S., Montalcini, T., & Pujia, A. (2025). The role of mobile apps in obesity management: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, Article e66887. https://doi.org/10.2196/66887

Richards, R., Lunt, W., Whitman, M., Spaltro, G., & Hall, R. (2025). Semaglutide and tirzepatide in a remote weight management program: 12-month retrospective observational study. JMIR Formative Research, 9, Article e81912. https://doi.org/10.2196/81912

Rodriguez, P. J., Zhang, V., Gratzl, S., Do, D., Goodwin Cartwright, B., Baker, C., Gluckman, T. J., Stucky, N., & Emanuel, E. J. (2025). Discontinuation and reinitiation of dual-labeled GLP-1 receptor agonists among US adults with overweight or obesity. JAMA Network Open, 8(1), Article e2457349. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57349

Silva, G. de O. L., Fernandes, G. R., Rocha, J. C. da, Aguilar, G. T., Lottici, I. D., Dode, A. D., Cabral, F. C., Moreira, T. de C., & Chagas, M. E. V. (2025). Digital health and its impacts on the access of minority groups to primary care: A systematic review. Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública, 49, Article e96. https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2025.96

Thomsen, R. W., Mailhac, A., Løhde, J. B., & Pottegård, A. (2025). Real-world evidence on the utilization, clinical and comparative effectiveness, and adverse effects of newer GLP-1RA-based weight-loss therapies. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 27(Suppl. 2), 66–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.16364

Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., Calanna, S., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Lingvay, I., McGowan, B. M., Rosenstock, J., Tran, M. T. D., Wadden, T. A., Wharton, S., Yokote, K., Zeuthen, N., Kushner, R. F., & Rubino, D. M. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 24(8), 1553–1564. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14725