
Form Health, a virtual obesity care provider, launched a new program on Tuesday to prevent the shift from overweight to obesity.
Boston-based Form Health already offers an obesity program for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or 27 with one or more weight-related conditions. The new overweight program, on the other hand, is designed for those with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 who do not have any weight-related comorbidities. It is currently available only through employer-sponsored Form Health plans.
Patients in the overweight program have a one-time medical visit with a Form Health American Board of Obesity Medicine physician to go over medical history and comorbidities. They then meet with a registered dietitian twice a month, and the dietitian creates a personalized care plan that includes support for behavior change, nutrition and physical activity. This care is provided through Form Health’s app, which also offers tracking tools, educational resources and group classes. Patients can message their dietitian between visits through the app as well.

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This differs from the obesity program, in which patients receive ongoing care from both the physician and registered dietitian. Those in the obesity program can also be prescribed weight loss medications if the physician considers it appropriate, while medications are not part of the overweight program.
There’s a need for this kind of preventive support, according to Jen Cressman, chief commercial officer of Form Health.
“It’s crucial to recognize that overweight is a medical condition — and one that is treatable. Individuals who are overweight face a higher risk of progressing to obesity and developing weight-related cardiometabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease,” Cressman said in an email. “Form believes we have a responsibility to lead the way in providing solutions that help individuals improve their health and prevent the progression to obesity, and that’s why we are so proud to announce this program.”
The launch of the overweight program comes as there has been a huge increase in demand for GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound. But these drugs are not a silver bullet.
“These drugs come with a hefty price tag, leading some employers across the United States to see their pharmaceutical costs soar — and, in response, restrict access to not only these treatments but science-based obesity care altogether,” Cressman said.
Research shows that addressing weight loss and obesity can have a major impact. Over 30% of adults in the U.S. are overweight and more than 42% have obesity. A 5% reduction in BMI could save an employer up to $3.4k annually per patient, and a 20% reduction could save $6.9k, according to Cressman.
Form Health is in a crowded space when it comes to addressing weight loss and obesity. Other companies that tackle these issues include Found, knownwell and Noom.
Photo: Peter Dazeley, Getty Images