TORONTO, June 28, 2021 /CNW/ - Newtopia Inc.
("Newtopia" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEWU), a
tech-enabled habit change provider focused on disease prevention,
today announced the results of a weight loss study conducted by the
Company on client outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. On
June 22, 2021, Newtopia presented
these study results at the United Scientific Group's 6th
International Conference on Obesity and Chronic Diseases, a
conference which brings together the brightest minds in research
and academia, to share ideas and provide critical reviews of ways
by which to combat obesity and related chronic diseases.
![Weight Loss During the Covid-19 Pandemic with a Virtual Habit Change Provider in an Employer Population (CNW Group/Newtopia Inc.) Weight Loss During the Covid-19 Pandemic with a Virtual Habit Change Provider in an Employer Population (CNW Group/Newtopia Inc.)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1553293/Newtopia_Inc__Newtopia_Announces_Strong_Outcome_Results_of_Weigh.jpg)
A total of 1,436 U.S. participants met the criteria for
Newtopia's study. Newtopia provided each participant access to a
tech-enabled virtual habit change experience designed around that
individual's health risks, genetics, medical history, motivation,
social determinants of health and personal preferences. The habit
change experience was further optimized to address the unique
challenges of COVID-19, such as increased stress levels and food
insecurity. Participants met virtually one-on-one with an assigned
health coach, or Inspirator, over the course of the year, as well
as received an e-scale, activity tracker and access to an
interactive app to support their efforts during the study.
Strong Study Results: Weight Loss and Risk Reduction during
the COVID-19 Pandemic
- The eligible study population was restricted to those
participants with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to
28, indicating that the participant was overweight.
- After 12 months in the habit change experience:
-
- 77% of participants lost weight;
- 44% of participants lost more than 4.3% of their total
body weight; and
- 22% of participants dropped a BMI risk category.
- The average weight loss across participants was 4.2%,
with a total combined loss of 35,833 pounds.
"We are thrilled with the results of this study, which further
demonstrates the effectiveness of Newtopia's habit change platform
to help health insurers prevent disease and lower costs," said
Jeff Ruby, Founder & CEO of
Newtopia. "While over 40% of U.S. adults reported gaining weight
during the pandemic, our study, which was conducted across
Newtopia's broad book of business, resulted in nearly 80% of our
participants losing weight during the pandemic, with over 20%
dropping an entire BMI risk category. These strong results build
upon the success achieved in our prior randomized controlled trial
conducted with Aetna resulting in a proven in-year ROI and continue
to validate the importance of our habit change platform to both
health insurers and their insured populations."
Long-Term Study Implications
Obesity has been directly linked to increased risk of serious
complications, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and even
cancer, which in turn results in significant medical costs for
self-insured health insurance providers. As reported by the Aetna
Innovation Lab, healthcare costs per individual can increase from
U.S.$3,400 per year for a healthy
individual to upwards of U.S.$15,000
to $20,000 per year if that
individual unfortunately develops multiple risk factors beyond
obesity, including that of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. This
risk of obesity increased significantly during the global pandemic,
and as a result so too did the potential healthcare costs for
self-insured employers. According to a recent study by the American
Psychological Association, 42% of U.S. adults reported
statistically significant weight gain during 2020.
Newtopia's obesity study on the other hand showed that despite
the challenges of COVID-19, individuals participating in the
Company's personalized habit change experiences could still achieve
impactful weight loss during a global pandemic, thus saving their
employers extensive medical costs. These results build upon the
Company's previous results achieved in a three-year randomized
controlled trial (the "RCT") funded by Aetna and published in the
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. After a
12-month period, on average participants in the RCT achieved a
clinically significant weight loss reduction of 4.3%, or 10 pounds
in year one, which translated into a reduction of metabolic risk
factors resulting in an annual reduction in medical costs by
U.S.$1,464 per employee. Based upon
an annual cost of ~U.S.$700 per
participant to be part of the Newtopia platform, these cost savings
translated into a 2X return on investment for Aetna within the
first year of the study.
Mr. Ruby continued, "While our most recent obesity study was not
a traditional randomized controlled trial, as it was conducted
across our book of business, the results of this study were even
stronger than that which we saw with our gold standard Aetna study.
Since completing our Aetna RCT, we've not only improved our results
across our book of business, but we have also become fully
accredited by the CDC. We believe that these most recent results
offer further support for the potential for even greater cost
savings and return on investment per individual to health insurers
utilizing the Newtopia habit change platform. At a time when
outcomes are king and health insurers are under immense pressure to
address pre-chronic disease risk and costs amongst their members,
we look forward to leveraging this exceptional track record of
efficacy to continue to build our pipeline of health insurer
clients and expand our book of business."
For more information about Newtopia's Weight Loss Study, please
visit the Resources section of Newtopia's website.
About Newtopia
Newtopia is a tech-enabled habit change provider focused on
disease prevention and reducing the cost of care for health
insurers. As a provider of whole person care, we prevent, reverse,
and slow the progression of chronic disease while enriching mental
health, resilience and overall human performance. Newtopia's
programs leverage genetic, social, and behavioral insights to
create individualized prevention programs with a focus on type 2
diabetes, heart disease, stroke and weight. With a person-centered
approach that combines virtual care, digital tools, connected
devices and actionable data science, Newtopia delivers sustainable
clinical and financial outcomes. Newtopia serves some of the
largest nationwide employers and health plans and is currently
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSXV: NEWU). To learn more,
visit newtopia.com, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information and
forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities legislation, and forward looking statements,
within the meaning of applicable United
States securities legislation (collectively,
"forward-looking statements"), which reflects management's
expectations regarding Newtopia's future growth, results from
operations (including, without limitation, future production and
capital expenditures), performance (both operational and financial)
and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words
such as "predicts", "projects", "targets", "plans", "expects",
"does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"anticipate" or "does not anticipate", "believe", "intend" and
similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or
results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur
or be achieved, or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or
other variations thereof, or comparable terminology have been used
to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than
statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information.
Such statements reflect Newtopia's current views and intentions
with respect to future events, based on information available to
Newtopia, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and
assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in
providing forward-looking information. While forward-looking
statements are based on data, assumptions and analyses that
Newtopia believes are reasonable under the circumstances, whether
actual results, performance or developments will meet Newtopia's
expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance and
financial condition of Newtopia to differ materially from its
expectations. These forward-looking statements include, among other
things, the estimated cost savings to plan payers associated with
the use of Newtopia's platform by plan members, the potential cost
of care reduction for other Medicare risk-bearing entities, the
continued engagement with Newtopia's platform by plan members,
clients continuing to offer Newtopia's platform pursuant to
agreements entered into, statements relating to Newtopia's business
plans and outlook. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee
and are based on a number of estimates and assumptions management
believes to be relevant and reasonable, whether actual results,
performance or developments will meet Newtopia's expectations and
predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause the actual results, performance and financial condition
of Newtopia to differ materially from its expectations. Certain of
the "risk factors" that could cause actual results to differ
materially from Newtopia's forward-looking statements in this press
release include, without limitation: the termination of contracts
by clients, risks related to COVID-19 including various
recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities
to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border
closures, non-essential business closures, quarantines,
self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing,
disruptions to markets, economic activity, financing, supply
chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general
economic conditions including a possible national or global
recession; and other general economic, market and business
conditions and factors, including the risk factors discussed or
referred to in Newtopia's disclosure documents, filed with the
securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of
Canada and available at
www.sedar.com including Newtopia's final long form prospectus dated
March 30, 2020.
Should any factor affect Newtopia's in an unexpected manner, or
should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove
incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from
the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking
information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this
cautionary statement. Moreover, Newtopia does not assume
responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such
forward-looking information. The forward-looking information
included in this press release is made as of the date of this press
release, and Newtopia undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required
by applicable law.
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SOURCE Newtopia Inc.