Key result
Higher AI chat engagement lacks an independent link to weight loss after adjusting for program activity.
Why the study?
Mobile app-based weight management programmes using AI coaching are increasingly used in type 2 diabetes, but real-world outcomes remain limited.
Does engagement with an AI-enabled weight management mobile app improve weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes?
Observational (n=444)
Does engagement with an AI-enabled weight management mobile app improve weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes?
Absolute Event Rate: 6.7% vs 3.99%
p-value: p=<0.05
An AI-enabled weight management app facilitated meaningful weight loss in adults with T2D, though specific engagement with the AI chat was not an independent predictor of weight loss when adjusting for overall app usage.
AI chat engagement was not independently linked to weight loss; hypothesis-generating for digital T2D tools but should not yet change practice.
Introduction and Objective: Mobile app-based weight management programmes using artificial intelligence (AI) coaching are increasingly used to support lifestyle change in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but real-world outcomes remain limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate weight loss among adults with T2D using an AI-enabled weight management app, and to examine whether AI coaching chat engagement was associated with weight loss at 12 and 26 weeks. Methods: This retrospective observational study included adults with T2D enrolled in a digital weight management app. Weight loss (%) was assessed at 12 and 26 weeks. AI coach engagement was defined as mean days/week of chat use and categorised as 0, 1-3, or 4-7 days/week. The multivariable linear regression model was adjusted for age, sex, baseline BMI, and other in-app activity (days/week). Results: At 12 weeks (n=444), users were 73.2% female, mean age 54.4 (SD 14.6) years, BMI 36.2 (SD 6.9) kg/m2. Mean weight loss was 3.63 (SD 4.16) %. At 26 weeks (n=263), mean weight loss was 4.54 (SD 6.20) %. In unadjusted analyses, users engaging with AI chat 4-7 days/week achieved greater mean weight loss than those with lower engagement at both 12 weeks (4.69% vs 3.05% and 2.23%) and 26 weeks (6.70% vs 3.99% and 3.87%) (pairwise Mann-Whitney U with Holm-Bonferroni correction; adjusted p < 0.05). In the regression model adjusted for other weight loss predictors, AI chat engagement was no longer associated with weight loss. Conclusion: Adults with T2D achieved meaningful weight loss at 12 and 26 weeks using an AI-enabled weight management mobile app. Higher AI chat engagement was associated with greater weight loss in unadjusted analyses but not after adjustment for overall programme activity and other factors, suggesting AI chat reflects broader user engagement. Disclosure R. Huntriss: None. D. Nikogosov: None. R. Salimgaraev: None.
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Huntriss et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Type 2 diabetes (n=444). High AI coach engagement (4-7 days/week) vs. Lower AI coach engagement (0 or 1-3 days/week) was evaluated on Weight loss (%) at 26 weeks (p=<0.05). Higher AI chat engagement was associated with greater weight loss at 26 weeks (6.70% vs 3.99%), but this association was no longer significant after adjusting for overall program activity.
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