Telehealth Trends: Obesity and Overweight Issues Rank in the Top Five Diagnoses

In December 2025, a significant shift unfolded in the landscape of telehealth diagnostics. For the first time ever, the categories of overweight and obesity entered the top five telehealth diagnostic categories in the southern and midwestern regions of the United States. This shift, noted in FAIR Health's Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, highlights an evolving recognition of these health issues, which are often overlooked in traditional healthcare settings.

Obesity and Telehealth

The emergence of obesity as a primary telehealth concern reflects broader trends in healthcare attitudes towards chronic conditions exacerbated by lifestyle factors. With obesity rates continuing to rise across the country, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth presents a unique opportunity to reach out to individuals who may otherwise not seek necessary medical advice.

Notably, in December, overweight and obesity peaked at the fifth position in telehealth diagnostic categories in both the South and Midwest. This change displaced categories such as encounters for examination in the South and noninflammatory female disorders in the Midwest, which vanished from the rankings in these regions.

Nationally, the overweight and obesity category maintained its ranking and held the third position overall, showing no changes from the previous month. It was also ranked second in the Western region and third in the Northeast, demonstrating a consistent pattern of prevalence.

Overall Telehealth Utilization

When we look at telehealth utilization, December data revealed an increase in telehealth claims across the board—rising from 15.0% of patients in November to 15.2% in December. The Northeast recorded the largest increase at 1.8%, with the South close behind at 1.2%. The West and Midwest saw smaller increases, indicating varying levels of acceptance and reliance on telehealth services across regions.

Despite the notable rise in telehealth claims, mental health conditions still constituted the largest segment of telehealth claims, with 62.4% of all telehealth patients reporting mental health issues in December 2025, although this was a slight decrease from 63.0% in November.

Urban Versus Rural Telehealth Challenges

Telehealth utilization remains skewed, with urban patients showing a higher propensity to use telehealth services compared to their rural counterparts. Nationally, 15.4% of urban patients had a telehealth claim, whereas only 7.9% of rural patients utilized this service. The Midwest displayed the most significant gap, where the telehealth claim rate for urban patients was 2.3 times higher than for rural patients. This discrepancy underscores the potential barriers to accessing telehealth in less populated areas, including technology access and awareness.

Age Distribution Insights

The data further point to age distribution trends within telehealth claimants. In December, individuals aged 31-40 represented the highest proportion of telehealth claims, followed closely by those aged 19-30. This marks a shift from November, where the rankings were reversed. Notably, the younger age brackets and seniors (ages 0-9 and 65+) consistently displayed the lowest proportions of telehealth claims, suggesting a need for targeted outreach and education in these demographics to encourage engagement with telehealth services.

Future Outlook for Telehealth

The Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker serves as a vital tool to navigate the changing terrain of healthcare. It will transition to a quarterly release format starting in June 2026, capturing broader trends and shifts in patient behaviors. As telehealth evolves, it aims to address the pressing health issues confronting many Americans, notably the rising obesity epidemic. The emphasis on telehealth for addressing such conditions raises essential questions about the evolution of healthcare, accessibility, and the integration of technology to reach patients where they are.

Through its continual adaptation to patient needs, telehealth remains at the forefront of modern healthcare solutions, enabling timely interventions for conditions that, like obesity, require both sensitivity and proactive management.