Unexplained rapid weight gain may be the result of fluid retention and swelling, also known as edema, which can cause the limbs, hands, feet, face, or abdomen to appear swollen. Complications of edema, if left untreated, can cause increasingly painful swelling, difficulty walking, stiffness of the joints and muscles, increased risk of skin infection and skin ulcers, decreased blood circulation, and decreased elasticity of arteries and veins.

General health factors contributing to mild forms of edema include prolonged sitting or standing, injury, excessive consumption of salty foods, and hormonal changes. Edema can present as a side effect of medications including blood pressure and diabetes medications, estrogens, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and vasodilators.

Edema is not a disease, but rather a symptom that may indicate general health status, side effects of medications, or serious underlying systemic conditions such as congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease including chronic bronchitis or emphysema, lymphedema, kidney disease, or cirrhosis of the liver.

According to the CFR, congestive heart failure is one of the most common reasons for admission to hospital. It is associated with long in-patient stays and has a high in-hospital and post-discharge morbidity and mortality. Fluid overload is a classic clinical feature of patients presenting with heart failure.

Peripheral edema in patients with congestive heart failure usually develops over weeks or even months. Most people will retain approximately 10 pounds of excess fluid before they see noticeable peripheral swelling. The aim of outpatient management is to remove the excess fluid. Regular patient weight monitoring is essential in identifying and treating serious underlying diseases, particularly before they necessitate costly hospitalizations.

4G enabled weight scales allow patients to generate their own data. Patient-generated health data (PGHD) are data created, recorded, or gathered by or from patients (or family members or other caregivers) to support their health. RPM allows patients and their caregivers to independently and seamlessly capture and share their health data electronically with clinicians from any location.

Research has shown RPM can work to control edema significantly compared to usual care and self-monitoring alone.