A Text Message-Based Intervention for Weight Loss: Randomized Controlled Trial
Kevin Patrick,Fred Raab,Marc A. Adams,Lindsay Dillon,Marian Zabinski,Cheryl L. Rock,William G. Griswold,Gregory J. Norman +7 more
TLDR
Text messages might prove to be a productive channel of communication to promote behaviors that support weight loss in overweight adults.Abstract:
Background: To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated whether weight loss can be promoted in overweight adults through the use of an intervention that is largely based on daily SMS (Short Message Service: text) and MMS (Multimedia Message Service: small picture) messages transmitted via mobile phones.
Objective: This paper describes the development and evaluation of a text message-based intervention designed to help individuals lose or maintain weight over 4 months.
Methods: The study was a randomized controlled trial, with participants being exposed to one of the following two conditions, lasting 16 weeks: (1) receipt of monthly printed materials about weight control; (2) an intervention that included personalized SMS and MMS messages sent two to five times daily, printed materials, and brief monthly phone calls from a health counselor. The primary outcome was weight at the end of the intervention. A mixed-model repeated-measures analysis compared the effect of the intervention group to the comparison group on weight status over the 4-month intervention period. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models examined weight change between baseline and 4 months after adjusting for baseline weight, sex, and age.
Results: A total of 75 overweight men and women were randomized into one of the two groups, and 65 signed the consent form, completed the baseline questionnaire, and were included in the analysis. At the end of 4 months, the intervention group (n = 33) lost more weight than the comparison group (?1.97 kg difference, 95% CI ?0.34 to ?3.60 kg, P = .02) after adjusting for sex and age. Intervention participants' adjusted average weight loss was 2.88 kg (3.16%). At the end of the study, 22 of 24 (92%) intervention participants stated that they would recommend the intervention for weight control to friends and family.
Conclusions: Text messages might prove to be a productive channel of communication to promote behaviors that support weight loss in overweight adults.
Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00415870; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00415870 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5dnolbkFt) [J Med Internet Res 2009;11(1):e1]read more
Citations
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The Effectiveness of Mobile-Health Technology-Based Health Behaviour Change or Disease Management Interventions for Health Care Consumers: A Systematic Review
Caroline Free,Gemma Phillips,Leandro Galli,Louise Watson,Lambert Felix,Phil Edwards,Vikram Patel,Andy Haines +7 more
TL;DR: It is concluded that high-quality, adequately powered trials of optimized interventions are required to evaluate effects on objective outcomes.
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Text Messaging as a Tool for Behavior Change in Disease Prevention and Management
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TL;DR: Evidence on behavior change and clinical outcomes was compiled from randomized or quasi-experimental controlled trials of text message interventions published in peer-reviewed journals by June 2009.
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Inbal Nahum-Shani,Shawna N. Smith,Bonnie Spring,Linda M. Collins,Katie Witkiewitz,Ambuj Tewari,Susan A. Murphy +6 more
TL;DR: It is critical that researchers develop sophisticated and nuanced health behavior theories capable of guiding the construction of JITAIs and particular attention has to be given to better understanding the implications of providing timely and ecologically sound support for intervention adherence and retention.
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William T. Riley,Daniel E. Rivera,Audie A. Atienza,Wendy Nilsen,Susannah Allison,Robin J. Mermelstein +5 more
TL;DR: Current theories appear inadequate to inform mobile intervention development as these interventions become more interactive and adaptive, and Dynamic feedback system theories of health behavior can be developed utilizing longitudinal data from mobile devices and control systems engineering models.
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Cynthia L. Ogden,Margaret D. Carroll,Lester R. Curtin,Margaret McDowell,Carolyn J. Tabak,Katherine M. Flegal +5 more
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