Comparison of traditional versus mobile app self-monitoring of physical activity and dietary intake among overweight adults participating in an mHealth weight loss program.
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Date
2013-04-12
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Self monitoring of physical activity PA and diet are key components of behavioral weight loss programs The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between diet mobile app website or paper journal and PA mobile app vs no mobile app self monitoring and dietary and PA behaviors MATERIALS AND METHODS This study is a post hoc analysis of a 6 month randomized weight loss trial among 96 overweight men and women body mass index BMI 25 45 kg m 2 conducted from 2010 to 2011 Participants in both randomized groups were collapsed and categorized by their chosen self monitoring method for diet and PA All participants received a behavioral weight loss intervention delivered via podcast and were encouraged to self monitor dietary intake and PA RESULTS Adjusting for randomized group and demographics PA app users self monitored exercise more frequently over the 6 month study 2 6 0 5 days week and reported greater intentional PA 196 4 45 9 kcal day than non app users 1 2 0 5 days week PA self monitoring pUnder0 01 100 9 45 1 kcal day intentional PA p 0 02 PA app users also had a significantly lower BMI at 6 months 31 5 0 5 kg m 2 than non users 32 5 0 5 kg m 2 p 0 02 Frequency of self monitoring did not differ by diet self monitoring method p 0 63 however app users consumed less energy 1437 188 kcal day than paper journal users 2049 175 kcal day p 0 01 at 6 months BMI did not differ among the three diet monitoring methods p 0 20 CONCLUSIONS These findings point to potential benefits of mobile monitoring methods during behavioral weight loss trials Future studies should examine ways to predict which self monitoring method works best for an individual to increase adherence