Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40978311›Full record

ArticleObesity pillars2025

Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of a structured telehealth obesity program in children and adolescents: A retrospective matched-control study.

Nora Struckmeyer, Torben Biester, Chantal Weiner, Evelin Sadeghian, Cathrin Guntermann, Laura Galuschka, Kisa von Stuelpnagel, Jantje Weiskorn, Kerstin Kapitzke, Karin Lange and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Obesity pillars, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Nora StruckmeyerChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Torben BiesterChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Chantal WeinerChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Evelin SadeghianChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Cathrin GuntermannChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Laura GaluschkaChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Kisa von StuelpnagelDepartment of Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Jantje WeiskornChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Kerstin KapitzkeChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Karin LangeMedical Psychology, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.
Thomas DanneChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.
Rebecca ToenneBetreuungsnetz, Netzwerk zur Versorgung schwerkranker Kinder e.V., Germany.
Felix ReschkeChildren's Hospital AUF DER BULT, Hanover, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing global health crisis, driven by poor diet, reduced physical activity, and psychosocial distress. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these factors, contributing to rising BMI and impaired health-related quality of life (HrQoL). Telehealth offers a promising, scalable modality to deliver multimodal obesity care. This study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of a structured pediatric telehealth intervention compared to historical in-person treatment. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 237 children and adolescents with obesity treated at a single academic center. Between 2020 and 2022, 117 participants received a 12-month structured lifestyle intervention via telehealth. A historical cohort (n = 120; 2017-2019) received the same intervention in person. Clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 12 months; the telehealth group was additionally followed up at 24 and 36 months. Primary outcome was change in BMI standard deviation score (BMI SDS). Secondary outcomes included physical fitness (6-min walk test), insulin resistance (HOMA index), lipid profile, dietary behavior (K-FFL), eating regulation (K-FEV), and HrQoL (KINDL-R). Results: Both groups achieved significant reductions in BMI SDS after 12 months, with sustained improvements in the telehealth group through 36 months (Δ = -0.18; p < 0.05). Physical performance and HOMA index improved in both cohorts. Telehealth participants showed greater improvements in healthy dietary behavior, cognitive appetite regulation, and Health-related quality of life HrQoL, especially in emotional and family domains. No adverse events occurred; adherence exceeded 85 %. Conclusion: A structured telehealth lifestyle intervention is safe, effective, and sustainable for pediatric obesity management. These findings support telehealth as a clinically viable and sustainable model for pediatric obesity care, recognizing that both weight reduction and weight stabilization may contribute to improved long-term outcomes.

Indexed as

Adolescent obesityDietary behaviorHealth-related quality of lifePediatric obesityTelehealth interventionWeight management

Identifiers

PMID40978311
PMCPMC12445613

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.