Telemedicine weight-loss program for adults in rural communities
Rural Engagement in TelemedTeam for Options in Obesity Treatment Solutions (RE-TOOL)
A telemedicine program that helps adults living in rural areas work with their primary care provider and remote specialists for weight loss, medical management, and access to medications or surgery options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11256784 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a program delivered through telemedicine that combines group-based behavioral weight-loss support with medical management by your local primary care provider. The team will track your weight, review medications that affect weight, offer counseling on diet and activity, and discuss guideline-recommended weight-loss drugs or surgical options when appropriate. The approach builds on prior rural clinic work that found group visits helped people lose more weight than one-on-one visits. Participation typically involves regular remote visits, coordination between your PCP and telemedicine specialists, and routine check-ins.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older who live in rural areas, have overweight or obesity (especially class 3 obesity or obesity-related medical conditions), and receive care at a participating rural primary care clinic.
Not a fit: People under 21, those who are not connected to a participating rural primary care clinic, or those without reliable telemedicine access may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help rural patients lose more weight, improve control of obesity-related health problems, and increase access to medications and surgery when needed.
How similar studies have performed: A prior RE-POWER trial in rural primary care showed larger weight loss with in-clinic group visits versus individual visits, and this project builds on that positive finding by adding telemedicine medical management.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Befort, Christie — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Befort, Christie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.