Real-world outcomes of hybrid obesity care using digital coaching and GLP-1 therapy in a multi-ethnic Asian setting
Authors' conclusion
In this real-world Asian setting, hybrid obesity care combining GLP-1 RAs with digital coaching produced clinically meaningful, sustained weight and metabolic improvements. Higher engagement consistently enhanced outcomes, supporting scalable integrated models tailored for diverse populations.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with obesity in a multi-ethnic Asian setting, Singapore; mean age 42.1 years, 64.1% female; East Asian 45.5%, European 26.8%, South Asian 13.3%, Southeast Asian 10.3%
- Participants
- 708 adults
- Outcome
- Mean weight loss
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsreal-world, single-group, Most received semaglutide (86% oral 14 mg), Data extracted from clinical records and the mHealth platform; linear mixed models over 6-18 months, stratified by engagement, metabolic status and ethnicity
- Real-world
- Single-group
- Most received semaglutide (86% oral 14 mg)
- Data extracted from clinical records and the mHealth platform; linear mixed models over 6-18 months, stratified by engagement, metabolic status and ethnicity
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mean weight loss at 12 months
12.7%
95% CI −14.0, −11.3
BMI drop at 12 months
4.1 points
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Weight loss · 18 months
- Further weight loss at 18 months
- 14.7%
Metabolic indicators
- Systolic BP decrease
- 11.5 mmHg
- Body fat percentage decrease
- 8.8%
- WHR improved
- 0.83 to 0.80
- HbA1c decline
- 0.6%
Engagement
- Greater app engagement: additional weight loss
- 2.0-2.2%
- Greater app engagement: more BMI reduction
- 0.72 kg/m²
- Greater app engagement: greater systolic BP drop
- up to 2.9 mmHg
- More frequent health coach contact contributed modest added improvements for weight and BMI
Subgroups by ethnicity and metabolic status
- Weight loss significantly lower among East Asians and those with hyperglycemia
Original publication
Real-world outcomes of hybrid obesity care using digital coaching and GLP-1 therapy in a multi-ethnic Asian setting. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 9 April 2026. doi:10.
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