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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Aug 21;18(16):8825.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168825.

Effect of Mobile-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Weight Loss among the Overweight and Obese Elderly Population in China: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Mingzhu Zhou  1   2 , Na Zhang  1   2 , Yu Zhang  1   2 , Xinyu Yan  1   2 , Muxia Li  1   2 , Wen Guo  1   2 , Xiaohui Guo  3 , Hairong He  1   2 , Kaiwei Guo  1   2 , Guansheng Ma  1   2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of Mobile-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Weight Loss among the Overweight and Obese Elderly Population in China: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Mingzhu Zhou et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background and objective: Overweight or obesity, as an independent risk factor for chronic diseases, has been on the rise globally. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is positive to weight control. Mobile-based lifestyle interventions have shown potential benefits in weight loss, but most studies were carried out among non-elderly population, so it is necessary to perform well-designed randomized controlled trials among the elderly with overweight or obesity. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of mobile-based lifestyle intervention on weight loss among the overweight and obese elderly population in China.

Methods: This is a prospective, open-labeled, three-month, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involving 750 participants from five cities who were randomly assigned to dietary and physical activity interventions group (DPG; mobile phone with the App and bracelet), physical activity interventions group (PG; mobile phone with the App and bracelet) and control group (CG; no interventions and kept their lifestyle as before). The outcomes evaluated were changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC).

Results: In total, 642 (85.6%) participants completed the study, 237 (94.8%), 203 (81.2%), and 202 (80.8%) for DPG, PG, and CG respectively. Comparing with PG and CG, the DPG showed a significant decrease in all outcomes after three months, including body weight (-4.1 kg vs. -1.0 kg; -4.1 kg vs. -0.8 kg; p < 0.05), BMI (-1.6 kg/m2 vs. -0.4 kg/m2; -1.6 kg/m2 vs. -0.3 kg/m2; p < 0.05), WC (-2.8 cm vs. -0.1 cm; -2.8 cm vs. -0.5 cm; p < 0.05), and HC (-3.8 cm vs. -1.3 cm; -3.8 cm vs. -1.3 cm; p < 0.05). Similar effects were seen across sex and BMI subgroups.

Conclusions: Mobile-based lifestyle intervention obtained beneficial effect in weight loss among the elderly with overweight or obesity. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness and its sustainability.

Keywords: mobile-based lifestyle intervention; overweight and obesity; the elderly; weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Illustration of the mobile-based support system.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow diagram of the trial.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Flow chart of participants through recruitment and follow-up.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Weight outcomes at three different times. Measures of weight outcomes included (a) body weight, (b) body mass index (BMI), (c) waist circumference (WC) and (d) hip circumference (HC). DPG: dietary and physical activity interventions group; PG: physical activity interventions group; CG: control group. For the DPG, body weight, BMI, WC, and HC all showed a downward trend (p < 0.05).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Changes in weight outcomes at Time 1 and Time 2 compared to baseline. Changes in weight outcomes included (a) changes in weight, (b) changes in body mass index (BMI), (c) changes in waist circumference (WC) and (d) changes in hip circumference (HC). DPG: dietary and physical activity interventions group; PG: physical activity interventions group; CG: control group; * p < 0.05 for the comparison of changes with DPG.
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