Clinical Outcomes Associated with the Use of a Family-Based Digital Support Program in Patients with Pharmacologic Treatment for Obesity

Q: What is the Adhera® Caring Digital Program (ACDP) intended to do?

ACDP is a digitally delivered intervention that supports family caregivers by providing educational, behavioral, and emotional tools. In this study it is tailored to the context of childhood obesity.

Q: How was caregiver engagement measured and categorized?

Caregiver engagement was assessed using a composite score derived from digital activity metrics. Participants were classified as having low, medium, or high engagement.

Q: What clinical outcomes were evaluated for children receiving GLP-1 treatment?

Children’s outcomes included BMI, weight, fat mass %, muscle mass %, and waist circumference. Additional biometric, physical activity, and sleep data were collected through a wearable device.

Q: Did caregiver engagement significantly influence short-term clinical outcomes?

Caregiver engagement was not significantly associated with short-term outcomes, although trends suggested potential complementary benefits. The authors call for further evaluation at Day 300.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Kurz

The Adhera® Caring Digital Program (ACDP) is a digital intervention designed to improve mental and physical well-being of family caregivers for children with chronic conditions, tailored here for childhood obesity. In this study, approximately 40 pediatric patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonist pharmacotherapy and their caregivers used ACDP, with caregiver engagement categorized as low, medium, or high. Clinical outcomes were measured at baseline and Day 150, including BMI, weight, fat mass %, muscle mass %, waist circumference, plus wearable-derived biometric, activity, and sleep data. Results showed significant improvements in BMI, body weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and muscle mass, with engagement trends toward greater reductions in body fat.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

1. Introduction

Article Clinical Outcomes Associated with the Use of a Family-Based Digital Support Program in Patients with Pharmacologic Treatment for Obesity Antonio de Arriba Muñoz 1,2, *, Oscar Eduardo Rodríguez-Montes 3, Ana Rocío Conde-Moro 3, María Teresa Garcia Castellanos 1,2, José Andrés Martínez García 1,2 and Luis Fernández-Luque 3 Academic Editor: Alejandro Gugliucci Received: 3 December 2025 Revised: 23 December 2025 Accepted: 25 December 2025 Published: 27 December 2025 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. 1 Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Miguel Servet Children’s University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; [tgcastellanos24@gmail.com](tgcastellanos24@gmail.com) (M.T.G.C.); jamartines@iisaragon.es (J.A.M.G.) 2 Aragon Health Research Institute, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 3 Adhera Health SL, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; [orodriguez@adherahealth.com](orodriguez@adherahealth.com) (O.E.R.-M.); [aconde@adherahealth.com](aconde@adherahealth.com) (A.R.C.-M.); [luis@adherahealth.com](luis@adherahealth.com) (L.F.-L.) * Correspondence: adearriba@salud.aragon.es; Tel.: +34-976765500 Abstract Background/Objectives: The Adhera® Caring Digital Program (ACDP) is a digitally delivered intervention aimed at enhancing the mental and physical well-being of family caregivers of children with chronic conditions. Tailored for the context of childhood obesity, ACDP leverages the Adhera AI Precision Digital Companion to support caregivers in promoting effective treatment adherence and healthy behaviors at home. While children in this study received GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment as part of their obesity management, the ACDP was designed to empower caregivers through educational, behavioral, and emotional support tools. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between engagement with the ACDP as a DHI and clinical outcomes in participants receiving GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment for obesity. Methods: This study analyzed data from approximately 40 pediatric patients receiving GLP-1-based pharmacological treatment for obesity and their caregivers enrolled in the ACDP. Caregiver engagement was assessed through a composite score derived from digital activity metrics and classified as low, medium, or high. Children’s clinical parameters (BMI, weight, fat mass %, muscle mass %, and waist circumference) were collected at baseline and Day 150 . Biometric, physical activity, and sleep data were also collected through a wearable device, enabling continuous and objective monitoring of participants’ physiological and behavioral patterns in realworld conditions. Statistical analyses included paired comparisons, Pearson correlations, and group comparisons by engagement level. Results: Data from 40 pediatric participants and their caregivers were analyzed over 150 days. Observed changes over the time in children showed a reduction in waist circumference (−6.0%, p = 0.0056) and a modest decrease in BMI. Higher levels of caregiver engagement with the Adhera® Caring Digital Program correlated with reduction in body fat (∆Fat% r ≈ 0.5, p = 0.091) representing the strongest correlation observed in the study, albeit not reaching statistical significance. From baseline to Day 150, significant improvements were observed across all clinical outcomes, including reductions in BMI (−4.51 kg/m2 ), body weight (−11.42 kg), body fat percentage (−5.63%), and waist circumference (−8.69 cm), alongside an increase in muscle mass (+4.47%) (all p < 0.0001) . Conclusions: At the mid-point of the intervention, combined GLP-1 pharmacotherapy and the Adhera® Caring Digital Program led to meaningful improvements in BMI, adiposity, and central obesity. While caregiver engagement was not significantly associated with short-term outcomes, observed trends suggest that digital support may provide com

FAQs

What is the Adhera® Caring Digital Program (ACDP) intended to do?

ACDP is a digitally delivered intervention that supports family caregivers by providing educational, behavioral, and emotional tools. In this study it is tailored to the context of childhood obesity.

How was caregiver engagement measured and categorized?

Caregiver engagement was assessed using a composite score derived from digital activity metrics. Participants were classified as having low, medium, or high engagement.

What clinical outcomes were evaluated for children receiving GLP-1 treatment?

Children’s outcomes included BMI, weight, fat mass %, muscle mass %, and waist circumference. Additional biometric, physical activity, and sleep data were collected through a wearable device.

Did caregiver engagement significantly influence short-term clinical outcomes?

Caregiver engagement was not significantly associated with short-term outcomes, although trends suggested potential complementary benefits. The authors call for further evaluation at Day 300.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Kurz