Found Announces Landmark, Peer-Reviewed Weight Loss Outcomes Study, Revealing Clinically Significant Weight Loss is Highly Achievable via Telehealth

Results of more than 66,000 members show the positive impact telehealth obesity care can have on weight loss, with the majority of participants achieving clinically significant weight loss via Found’s platform.

Today, Found, the leading specialized weight care telehealth platform, announced a landmark study published in Obesity Science & Practice, assessing weight loss outcomes up to 12 months for more than 66,000 members. The results show the positive impact that Found’s consumer telehealth obesity care program can have on weight loss, with the majority of members showing clinically significant weight loss by participating in the program. The study examined how members' health was improved through comprehensive care, combining the most effective and clinically appropriate medication with lifestyle guidance.

"What's remarkable about this analysis isn't just its unprecedented scale for a telehealth weight care platform. Examining outcomes from over 66,000 patients tells us something profound about the future of obesity care," said Found Chief Medical Officer Rekha Kumar, MD, MS. "These results demonstrate that comprehensive virtual care can deliver consistent, clinically meaningful outcomes while dramatically expanding access to evidence-based treatment. By gathering real-world evidence at this scale, we're showing how telehealth can democratize access to personalized, effective weight care."

In the largest outcomes analysis from a telehealth platform of this size, Obesity Science & Practice published weight loss outcomes of 66,094 participants in Found’s virtual weight care program that prescribes antiobesity medications alongside a digital behavior change program. Data used in the paper came from participants who joined between October 2021 to October 2023 to give a holistic view of short and long-term outcomes.

The findings provide real-world evidence that users of Found’s virtual commercial weight care clinic who were prescribed anti-obesity medications achieved clinically significant weight loss at six and 12 months.

Key findings include:

• Members saw clinically significant weight loss: Over half of the members studied achieved clinically significant weight loss, defined as weight loss of 5% or greater. In fact, members saw a mean percent weight loss of nearly 10% in 12 months, with weight loss increasing over time. Three months into the program, participants saw a mean percent weight loss of 3%, increasing to 5.8% at 6 months and 8% at 12 months. While GLP-1s and weight loss medication are often viewed as a “quick fix” in popular culture, this data highlights the significant positive performance of long-term commitment to medication lifestyle change. What makes Found’s program different is this long-term commitment to treating obesity as a disease, further proven by the data that 48.6% of participants reduced their BMI enough to move down at least one obesity category during the study period.
• Showing up pays off: In addition to making the most of Found's comprehensive range of weight-loss resources, participants who demonstrated consistency tended to have more substantial results. Researchers noted that weight-loss outcomes increased with program engagement: Members who were active on the app at least once weekly on average for 12 months lost an average of 10% of their body weight, while those who logged their weight in the app at least one time per week on average lost 12%. Considering that even 2% of weight loss can lower health risks, this is an important finding, the researchers noted.
• Members lose weight and keep it off: Previous research on weight loss highlights the difficulty of maintaining weight loss after a few months of losing it. But in the study’s analysis, Found members who saw early progress sustained it, with nearly 82.9% of participants reporting weight maintenance after a year. Of these members, 79.6% lost additional weight in the 12 month period following the study.
• Outcomes are impressive with and without GLP-1s: Although GLP-1 medications are rapidly changing the landscape of weight-loss treatments, only 2.9% of the prescriptions issued during the study period were for GLP-1s. 97.1% of prescriptions were for non-GLP-1 medications. Since the time of the study, GLP-1 usage at Found has significantly increased, in line with the results of the study which show higher weight loss outcomes for GLP-1 users. Participants in the study on GLP-1 medications (defined as receiving six or more GLP-1 prescriptions over the course of 12 months) saw an average of 13.9% weight loss, while non-GLP-1 users saw an average of 8% weight loss in 12 months. This result demonstrates that having various treatment options is essential, especially since treatments can be tailored to each person's unique needs.
• Results are consistent for a wide range of members: Researchers commented that a notable strength of the study is the large sample size, with representation across multiple geographic regions of the United States. That's in contrast to smaller studies—sometimes with only a dozen participants or even fewer—which may not have results representative of what a larger group might experience.
• Program quality matters: Another important advantage of the study, according to the researchers, was the strength of Found's program, which they highlighted as "one that has implemented high-quality safety protocols, uses dose escalation for medications, and places a high standard on clinical quality review processes." Overall, they stated that the integrity of Found's program shows that virtual solutions with Found-affiliated clinicians trained in obesity medicine can be successfully delivered for a large number of members.

While the literature on weight loss strategies and the efficacy of weight loss medications is growing, there is a major gap in studies evaluating telehealth-based weight loss care, which is not only growing in popularity but provides the widest possible care to patients across the country without geographic limitations. Since 2019, Found’s mission has been to deliver virtual weight care at scale, and for the first time, this study reveals the significant positive impact of this work.

The study's conclusion stated that the data showed users of Found who are prescribed medications and utilize behavior change programs can achieve notable weight loss that lasts up to a year and likely beyond. The researchers wrote, "These findings support the value of virtual platforms in efficiently scaling access to high-quality weight care."

About Found

Found is a physician-designed weight care platform transforming the way society approaches personalized weight management. Founded in 2019, Found provides members with one of the industry's largest medication formularies alongside judgment-free, evidence-based care that combines medication and behavior change support. This comprehensive approach drives lasting results while reducing costs for consumers, employers, and payors. Named one of the best weight loss programs in the United States by Forbes and USA Today, Found is also a member of the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance. For more information, visit www.joinfound.com.

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