Observational studyJournal of medical Internet research2025
Evaluation of the Digital Support Tool Gro Health W8Buddy as Part of Tier 3 Weight Management Service: Observational Study.
Observational study in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Observational
- Digital Engagement Significantly Enhances Weight Loss Outcomes in Adults With Obesity Treated With Tirzepatide: Retrospective Cohort Study of a Digital Weight Loss Service.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe escalating prevalence of obesity worldwide increases the risk of chronic diseases and diminishes life expectancy, with a growing economic burden necessitating urgent intervention. The existing tiered approach to weight management, particularly specialist tier 3 services, falls short of meeting the population's needs. The emergence of digital health tools, while promising, remains underexplored in specialized National Health Service weight management services (WMSs).
objectiveThis service evaluation study assessed the use, effectiveness, and clinical impact of the W8Buddy digital support tool as part of the National Health Service WMS.
methodsW8Buddy, a personalized digital platform, provides a tailored weight management plan to empower individuals and was collaboratively developed with input from patients, the clinical team, and DDM Health. It launched at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire tier 3 WMS in 2022. All patients accessing University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire WMS were offered W8Buddy as part of standard care. Data were analyzed using independent samples t tests and Fisher exact tests for continuous and categorical outcomes, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis explored associations between participant weight, engagement with W8Buddy, and time in the service.
resultsComplete datasets for weights were available for 421 patients (220 W8Buddy group and 192 nonuser control group). W8Buddy users, predominantly female (n=185, 84.1%) and Caucasian, had a mean age of 43 years, while nonusers averaged 46 years (P=.02). Starting weights were comparable: 134 kg in the W8Buddy group and 130.2 kg in controls (P=.14); however, W8Buddy users had slightly higher starting BMI (49.6 vs 46.8 kg/m
conclusionsParticipants engaging with W8Buddy as part of a digitally enabled tier 3 WMS demonstrated significant improvements in clinical and psychological outcomes, with weight changes statistically significant compared to those not engaging with the digital tool. Reduction in hemoglobin A
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.