64.8%
Why measure these dimensions
Obesity treatments are advancing, but early discontinuation remains common. In the United States, 64.8% of adults without type 2 diabetes who had started a GLP-1 receptor agonist had stopped it within a year.
The review by C. Plessis et al., published in Advances in Nutrition (2026), describes the psychological dimensions involved in obesity, and how little they are still taken into account in digital programs.
Their link with treatment persistence is the focus of our work.
Six psycho-markers: what the person is going through, what they can draw on.
We use the term psycho-markers for the six psycho-behavioral dimensions measured by EmyDiag: four describe distress, two describe resources. Each corresponds to an established construct in the obesity literature. They are measurements, not diagnostic markers.
What the person is going through
4 distress dimensions
The psychological and behavioral difficulties associated with obesity.
What they can draw on
2 resource dimensions
The resources the person has to cope with them.
Documented development, measured properties, stated limitations.
How the instrument was built
- 01
Scientific rationale
The dimensions measured build on a literature review published in Advances in Nutrition (2026), which describes eight dimensions; the instrument measures six of them.
- 02
Co-design
The items were developed with healthcare professionals and patients.
- 03
Development
57 initial items, reduced to 26 over successive data collection waves.
- 04
Samples
Each data collection wave involved a new sample of respondents, from the pilot version to the current version.
- 05
Evaluation framework
Our analyses follow the COSMIN framework, the international reference for evaluating health measurement instruments; a full evaluation against its checklist is planned.
Who it is for and how it is used
Clinical research and cohorts
Characterize participants' six psycho-markers at enrollment, with a standardized measure taking about six minutes.
Health industry, insurers
Document, in your studies, what is at play beyond weight: scores computed by Emycare, results reported in aggregate form.
Our research program
| Number | Program | DesignRegulatory approvalsStudiesAnalysisWritingPublication |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | State of the artReview published in Advances in Nutrition (2026)Published | published: all stages completed |
| 02 | Psychometric studyPsychometric validation of EmyDiagManuscript in preparation | current stage: writing (5 of 6) |
| 03 | Concordance studyClinical study: concordance with assessment by obesity specialistsEnrollment ongoing | current stage: studies (3 of 6), regulatory approvals obtained |
| 04 | Prognostic valueResearch program in preparationIn design | current stage: design (1 of 6) |
Planning a study or exploring a research question?
Let's talk about your project and what EmyDiag can bring to it.