Review of Telehealth in Obesity Management

Nyakairu Doreen G.

Faculty of Science and Technology Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Telehealth has emerged as an essential strategy for delivering obesity management services, particularly as global obesity rates continue to rise and access to evidence-based care remains limited for many populations. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on the modalities, components, effectiveness, challenges, and future priorities of telehealth in obesity management. Telehealth interventions, including synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid models, facilitate remote delivery of behavioral counselling, dietary support, physical-activity guidance, and self-monitoring. Evidence across multiple trials demonstrates that telehealth produces weight-loss outcomes and improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors comparable to traditional in-person care, with mean reductions of 2.6–3.6 kg and sustained ≥5% weight loss in more than half of participants after 12 months. Telehealth also enhances patient satisfaction, improves accessibility for underserved groups, and supports long-term adherence through technology-enabled behavior-change strategies. However, disparities in digital access, methodological heterogeneity, limited economic evaluations, and persistent privacy concerns present challenges to widespread adoption. Future directions emphasize technology innovation, rigorous evaluation of hybrid models, improved equity in access, and standardized reporting frameworks. Overall, telehealth represents a viable, scalable, and acceptable approach to obesity management, with the potential to strengthen prevention and chronic disease care across diverse populations.

Keywords: Telehealth, Obesity Management, Behavioral Interventions, Digital Health Equity, and Weight Loss Outcomes.

CITE AS: Nyakairu Doreen G. (2026). Review of Telehealth in Obesity Management. IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 11(1):82-88. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJSR/2026/11.1.8288