The global demand for GLP-1 medications has risen substantially over the last two years. So too have reports suggesting the impacts these “wonder drugs'' will have on curing the obesity epidemic. While it’s true that GLP-1 medications are a major step forward in battling obesity (and its large number of associated health conditions) they still need to be paired with tailored medical advice and significant lifestyle changes.
New research published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism has revealed that GLP-1 medications are far more effective when combined with personalised health coaching, like the programs offered by Juniper and Pilot, helping patients to lose more weight, quicker.
Background on the study
The study compared patients of the Juniper weight loss program (a personalised, multidisciplinary care model delivered digitally) with two independent international studies of GLP-1 weight-loss cohorts:
- The SCALE trial — a clinical trial where patients received GLP-1 medications and standardised diet and exercise support
- The ADDRESS trial — a real-world study where patients received GLP-1 therapy without any health coaching or counselling
In comparing the results of these studies to the Juniper cohort, it’s important to understand that:
- Both SCALE and ADDRESS included trial participants who had the cost of their treatment reimbursed. ADDRESS also included a non-reimbursed cohort, meaning these patients had the cost of their treatments paid for.
- Juniper patients paid for their own treatment.
The results
Despite the shorter treatment period (32 weeks for Juniper, 43 weeks for ADDRESS, and 52 weeks for SCALE), Juniper’s cohort achieved superior outcomes compared to both the non-reimbursed ADDRESS study cohort and the patients who participated in the SCALE randomised controlled trial.
A comparison of the four cohorts’ results revealed that Juniper patients: :
- Were twice as likely to lose at least 15% of their body weight, in less time, compared to the clinical trial of the same medication
- Were 4.5 times more likely to lose significant weight (>5%), compared to the phase 3 clinical trial of the same medication
- Lost, on average, 11.6% of their body weight at 32 weeks.
The study also found that:
- Nearly 90% of Juniper patients lost at least 5% of their body weight
- Nearly 60% of Juniper patients lost at least 10% of their body weight at 32 weeks
- One-quarter of Juniper patients lost at least 15% of their body weight at 32 weeks
What this shows is that even though GLP-1 medications are often described as a “silver bullet” for obesity, patients achieve better outcomes when they also receive personalised diet, exercise and medical guidance from practitioners to help them change lifestyle habits in the long term.
Eucalyptus’ Clinical Director, Dr Matthew Vickers highlights the importance of the research in comparing Juniper’s holistic digital program with GLP-1 medication alone.
“We see the Juniper results as proof of concept for the effectiveness of a combination of medication and personalised health coaching delivered through digital platforms online or in-app.
“A personalised digital approach to weight loss can overcome many of the practical limitations faced in traditional face-to-face care. It’s also a considerable time and cost saver by providing fast access to health experts at a time and place when it suits patients, wherever they live,” said Dr Vickers.
The achievements of the Juniper cohort help to demonstrate the advantages of digital weight loss support that offers comprehensive health and lifestyle education alongside medication to achieve better health outcomes and improve access to quality healthcare services.
The benefits of digital weight care
While the results of the Juniper study are impressive, they are even more significant when they’re contextualised with the understanding that patients in two of the comparator cohorts did not face the ongoing financial burden of paying for their medical treatment.
Multidisciplinary care isn’t typically accessible, and it’s not within the means of the vast majority of Australians to consult with a team of in-person doctors, personal trainers, dieticians and health coaches — particularly in regional Australia where access to those services may be scarce.
Digital weight loss clinics offer a solution to many of the limitations patients face in traditional face-to-face weight loss care, from scheduling to travel and overall cost.
At Eucalyptus, we use technology to enable and optimise high-quality personalised multidisciplinary care for patients taking weight loss medication, ultimately delivering better outcomes for our patients.
Juniper’s Weight Reset Program is the only comprehensive digital obesity management program in the country to provide superior weight loss outcomes as a result of its personalised, patient-centred support. Juniper’s program encourages patients to move beyond just weight loss and to focus on strength gained, helping them reshape their body composition and maintain their weight loss for life.
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