Telehealth Can be Useful in Treating Chronic Diseases

The aging population is increasing worldwide. The number of people 60 years and older are expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2050. And with this increase in age comes an increase in overweight and obesity. And we know that with an increase in overweight and obesity, we will get an increase in chronic diseases. But many of these chronic diseases can be avoided or effectively managed using lifestyle change and self-management techniques facilitated using telehealth.

To address the onset of type 2 diabetes, the CDC established the National Diabetes Prevention Program in 2010. And one of the optional delivery modes in that program is telehealth. Telehealth can lower the cost of delivery, and allow participants in distant areas to take part in the treatment. The treatment uses weight loss as a key objective of the prevention program. And one study has shown just how effective the use of telehealth can be in weight management for individuals 60 and older.

The study was done in China, and employed remote management as the primary tool for delivering the weight management protocol. Participants in the study had to be between 60 and 80 years of age. Participants had to have a BMI of 24 or greater. They could not have participated in any other weight loss study. They had to have a smart phone, and be able to use the phone.

People were excluded from the study who had problems with cognitive skills, schizophrenia or depression. Participants were not to have a pacemaker, walking difficulties, bariatric surgery, or any history of alcoholism. All participants were to be amenable to lifestyle change.
As with the National Diabetes Prevention Program, participants in the study were allowed to set their own goals, use smart scales and activity trackers connected to their smart phones via Bluetooth.

Nutrition and physical activity experts were on hand to provide personalized assistance via the internet and phone. The participants were encouraged to get a minimum of 20 minutes of resistance training or 20 minutes of aerobic physical activity per day. Or the participants could choose to walk 6000 steps each day.

The researchers concluded that intervening via remote management could improve diet and enhance physical activity. And that the interventions were beneficial in weight management. This is also been the conclusion drawn from the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

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