Successful weight reduction and maintenance by using a smartphone application in those with overweight and obesity

Abstract

A discrepancy exists with regard to the effect of smartphone applications (apps) on weight reduction due to the several limitations of previous studies. This is a retrospective cohort study, aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a smartphone app on weight reduction in obese or overweight individuals, based on the complete enumeration study that utilized the clinical and logging data entered by Noom Coach app users between October 2012 and April 2014. A total of 35,921 participants were included in the analysis, of whom 77.9% reported a decrease in body weight while they were using the app (median 267 days; interquartile range = 182). Dinner input frequency was the most important factor for successful weight loss (OR = 10.69; 95% CI = 6.20–19.53; p < 0.001), and more frequent input of weight significantly decreased the possibility of experiencing the yo-yo effect (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.39–0.89; p < 0.001). This study demonstrated the clinical utility of an app for successful weight reduction in the majority of the app users; the effects were more significant for individuals who monitored their weight and diet more frequently.

Effects of climatic variables on weight loss: a global analysis

“…Our results agree with similar results obtained in another study14. One of the variables playing an important role in this analysis was the location of the user, which allowed us to keep track of the different diets, lifestyles, ethnicities and different climatic conditions of the distinct locations.…”

A Digital Health Weight Loss Program in 250,000 Individuals

“…e scale and duration of this study contribute to the growing evidence base that mobile applications may be a useful tool in combating obesity at a population level with the distinct advantage of being widely accessible, relatively low cost, and without the constraint of face-to-face interaction [5]. is is the largest observational study of a mobile application for weight loss with the largest similar study reporting on approximately 36,000 individuals [17]. Our study differs significantly by adding the hybrid approach use of a wireless home scale and specific nutrition plan.…”

Fifty Years of Behavioral/Lifestyle Interventions for Overweight and Obesity: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

“…For example, a recent report concluded that 21 of 25 (84%) digital diabetes prevention and management programs (addressing modification of diet, activity, and/or weight) used live human counseling as a part of the intervention. In fact, one of the most intensively studied uses of AI in an ILI includes live human counseling in addition to AI . Use of streaming media may be another answer to this conundrum, and it is more fully developed than AI.…”