Using an API to commercialize an evidence-based weight loss intervention

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Over 69 percent of the U.S. population is currently overweight or obese; 35 percent are obese. Obesity is a primary cause of numerous chronic diseases including type II diabetes, cancer, heart disease and the metabolicsyndrome. Behavioral weight loss interventions have successfully resulted in significant clinical improvements in weight (7-10 percent weight loss) that is sustained for at least 6-12 months. Unfortunately, such interventions are often time consuming, resource intensive and difficult to scale. Digital health holds enormous promise for addressing weight loss and several trials have shown meaningful weight loss using digital health tools. Digital health provides a means of reaching large numbers of people with highly personalized content and sustained long-term participant engagement -all at low cost. Despite the promise, digital health has not delivered. Evidence-based tools are virtually absent from the commercial digital health space. This application