Study finds clinically obese and overweight individuals using online coach were
44 percent more likely to lose weight than those not using the program
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (October 22, 2008) – OptumHealth Inc. today announced results from a recent 12-month study that found individuals who completed OptumHealth’s Online Health Coach weight management program were 44 percent more likely to lose weight compared with those who did not complete the program. The study also found that individuals completing the program lost 63 percent more weight than those in a control group that did not go through the program.
In presenting a demonstration of the Online Health Coach during the Health 2.0 Conference – one of the nation’s largest gatherings of health care providers, payers and e-health technology companies – OptumHealth Consumer Solutions senior vice president Scott Heimes said, “These results show that online interactive programs can successfully encourage people to change behaviors that can otherwise cause health problems. When consumers proactively engage in healthier behaviors at home and at work, the result is a better quality of life along with reduced health care spending and reduced absenteeism.”
OptumHealth’s Online Health Coach is an evidence-based online consumer engagement tool that is personalized for the user. Participants are involved in a highly interactive coaching experience that provides structured weekly to-do lists, tools, trackers, slide shows, meal plans and motivational messaging to address lifestyle behaviors that contribute to obesity and help them stay focused on achieving their goals. This tailored coaching process is based on a transtheoretical model of behavior change, or “stages of change” theory, and includes eight coaching modules available across wellness and chronic disease conditions.
The Online Health Coach is one of several useful tools OptumHealth provides to help consumers become healthier and stay healthy. It is available to employees and health plan members through private and secure Web portals, which serve as a foundation for building a culture of health and wellness within an organization by integrating content, wellness programs, phone-based disease and case management programs, tools and trackers.
About OptumHealth
OptumHealth Inc. helps individuals navigate the health care system, finance their health care needs and achieve their health and well-being goals. The company’s personalized health advocacy and engagement programs tap a unique combination of capabilities that encompass care solutions, behavioral solutions, specialty benefits and financial services. Serving more than 60 million people, OptumHealth is the nation’s largest health and wellness business and is a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company. More information about OptumHealth can be found at www.optumhealth.com.
Contact:
Molly McMillen
Sr. Manager, External Communications
(763) 797-4559 O
(612) 353-7778 C
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