Lark Health's Diabetes Prevention Program Achieves Long-Term Weight Loss Results

One-Year Clinical Outcomes Demonstrate Platform's Ability to Engage and Impact Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

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Mar 03, 2020, 09:01 ET

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lark Health, the leading chronic disease management and prevention platform, today released a year-long study of its digital Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), finding it produced positive clinical outcomes for adults at-risk for type 2 diabetes. Study participants using Lark's Fully CDC-Recognized DPP experienced an average weight loss of 10 pounds, or an average loss of 4.2 percent of body weight, after completing the year-long program.

"This study demonstrates Lark's ability to help at-risk adults achieve long-term, clinically significant weight loss and reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Jason Paruthi, MD, Medical Director at Lark. "Lark's coaching program, utilizing AI and connected devices, can reach millions of adults who otherwise might not have access to an in-person or telephonic DPP and provide them with highly effective coaching and guidance."

Six-hundred and ten (610) participants, with a mean age of 47 years were identified as eligible for the Lark DPP based on CDC criteria of being at-risk for type 2 diabetes. Eligible participants were prompted to enroll in the Lark DPP and were shipped a digitally connected weight scale. The Lark DPP is an engaging, highly personalized program that delivers the CDC Prevent T2 curriculum via a series of 26 weekly missions followed by a maintenance period.

In addition to overall weight loss at one year, Lark's research team noted exceptional program engagement. After one year, study participants achieved a mean weight loss of 4.2 percent, while 40 percent of participants achieved a weight loss of at least 5 percent. Participants averaged 393 coaching sessions and 182 weight measurements.

Weight loss is used as a clinical proxy for DPP program effectiveness, as obesity is closely related to insulin sensitivity, blood glucose control, and risk for type 2 diabetes. Sustained weight loss at one year has been clinically proven to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the International Journal of Clinical Practice, while a study in Diabetes Care concluded that each kilogram lost correlates with a 16 percent lower risk for type 2 diabetes. Further, health care cost savings for someone without obesity compared to someone who has obesity are estimated at $1,440 annually, while taking the CDC estimate of obesity in adults at 39.8 percent in 2015-2016, a company with 10,000 employees whose employees with obesity used the Lark DPP could potentially save over $600,000 annually.

Lark's technology, and specifically the use of AI, allows the platform to serve millions of members, wherever they are and whenever they need it, with non-linear increases in cost. For instance, each of the meals logged by a participant are followed by instantaneous coaching on meal quality and trends using AI and Natural Language Processing. Lark's platform breaks down barriers typically experienced in in-person and telephonic DPPs including cost, lack of coverage, and the inability to scale outcomes to the tens of millions of Americans at risk for type 2 diabetes.

About Lark
Lark Health is the leading integrated chronic disease prevention and management platform, using proven AI, expert coaching, and smart connected devices to deliver better health outcomes at scale. Lark uses cutting edge conversational AI and connected health monitors to provide real-time, one-on-one counseling to help members make healthier choices, manage their conditions, and when necessary reach expert nurses and coaches to make changes to medication or handle a significant blood sugar event, for example. Lark's Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), Behavioral Health Program, Diabetes Care Program, and Hypertension Program have served nearly 2 million members, and have demonstrated clinically validated outcomes. Lark's DPP, which is the fastest growing and lowest cost DPP, has received CDC Full Recognition. Lark works with many of the largest health plans, PBMs, and self-insured employers to help their members live healthier lives. Founded by CEO Julia Hu and CTO Jeff Zira in 2011, the company was named "Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the World" alongside Uber and AirBnB, and Google's "Best of the Year". To learn more, visit www.lark.com.

Contact:
Cameron D. Jacox
[email protected]

SOURCE Lark Health