One Medical and Michelle Obama’s PHA have a new app to fight obesity

Obesity has become an alarmingly common ailment in America. With over a third of Americans considered obese plus obesity’s correlation with low-income households, the need for a solution is more pressing today than ever. And now, a new collaboration between One Medical and First Lady Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) may have the semblance of an answer in the form of free digital nutrition coaching to low income families.

Beginning in September, the new partnership will afford 500 individuals access to three months of personalized nutrition coaching by way of Rise, One Medical’s mobile nutrition app. Hopefully, this personalized approach will help participants adjust their lifestyles, both in terms of diet and exercise, and weight loss.

The program will employ master’s students in the Iowa State University Dietetics Graduate Program to serve as coaches on Rise, and will offer regular communication with participants. The students will also assist with recommendations and support throughout their health-minded journey. One Medical hopes that this more hands-on approach will help those at risk of obesity make critical lifestyle changes.

“Two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and many can’t afford to get the help they need to make healthy lifestyle changes,” said Suneel Gupta, co-founder of Rise and head of mobile business at One Medical. “By forming partnerships with organizations that can take advantage of our coaching platform, we’re hoping to bring nutrition coaching to more of the people who need it the most, regardless of financial means.”

Participants in the pilot program will be selected based on income, body mass index (BMI), and what One Medical calls their “commitment to the program.”

“We believe technology can play a critical role in helping to solve the obesity epidemic,” said PHA CEO Lawrence A. Soler. “Early intervention, as well as personalized treatment like what Rise is offering can help people living with this disease to live longer, fuller lives.”