Long-term Effectiveness of a Smartphone App Combined With a Smart Band on Weight Loss, Physical Activity, and Caloric Intake in a Population With Overweight and Obesity (Evident 3 Study): Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Multicomponent mobile health approaches can improve lifestyle intervention results, although little is known about their long-term effectiveness.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the long-term effectiveness (12 months) of a multicomponent mobile health intervention-combining a smartphone app, an activity tracker wristband, and brief counseling, compared with a brief counseling group only-on weight loss and improving body composition, physical activity, and caloric intake in Spanish sedentary adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled, multicenter clinical trial (Evident 3). A total of 650 participants were recruited from 5 primary care centers, with 318 participants in the intervention group (IG) and 332 in the control group (CG). All participants were briefly counseled about a healthy diet and physical activity at the baseline visit. For the 3-month intervention period, the IG received training to use the app to promote healthy lifestyles and the smart band (Mi Band 2, Xiaomi). All measurements were performed at baseline and at 3 and 12 months. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Nutritional habits were assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire and Adherence to Mediterranean diet questionnaire.

Results: Of the 650 participants included, 563 (86.6%) completed the 3-month visit and 443 (68.2%) completed the 12-month visit. After 12 months, the IG showed net differences in weight (-0.26, 95% CI -1.21 to 0.70 kg; P=.02), BMI (-0.06, 95% CI -0.41 to 0.28 points; P=.01), waist-height ratio (-0.25, 95% CI -0.94 to 0.44; P=.03), body adiposity index (-0.33, 95% CI -0.77 to 0.11; P=.03), waist circumference (-0.48, 95% CI -1.62 to 0.66 cm, P=.04) and hip circumference (-0.69, 95% CI -1.62 to 0.25 cm; P=.03). Both groups lowered daily caloric intake and increased adherence to the Mediterranean diet, with no differences between the groups. The IG increased light physical activity time (32.6, 95% CI -30.3 to 95.04 min/week; P=.02) compared with the CG. Analyses by subgroup showed changes in body composition variables in women, people aged >50 years, and married people.

Conclusions: The low-intensity intervention of the Evident 3 study showed, in the IG, benefits in weight loss, some body composition variables, and time spent in light physical activity compared with the CG at 3 months, but once the devices were collected, the downward trend was not maintained at the 12-month follow-up. No differences in nutritional outcomes were observed between the groups.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03175614; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03175614.

International registered report identifier (irrid): RR2-10.1097/MD.0000000000009633.

Keywords: eHealth; exercise; mobile app; mobile phone; obesity; telemedicine; weight control.

Figure 1

Flowchart of the Evident 3 study.

Figure 2

Evident 3 app screenshots.

Figure 3

Evolution of weight, BMI, and other anthropometrics parameters from baseline to 3 and 12 months comparing the intervention and control group. P value between groups was adjusted by age and sex: weight, P=.02; waist circumference, P=.04; hip circumference, P=.03; BMI, P=.01; waist–height ratio, P=.03; and body adiposity index, P=.03.