Complementary Support from Facilitators and Peers for Promoting mHealth Engagement and Weight Loss

Kim, Heewon; Ray, Colter D.; Veluscek, Alaina M.

doi:10.1080/10810730.2017.1373876

Cited by 37 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Videos also included other adolescents, which may have encouraged participation. [ 25 ] Also similar to prior work we provided a US $25 monthly incentive to assist with the cost of mobile data for active participants [ 15 ]. Participants were incentivized for 3 posts and did not receive any additional incentives.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Feasibility of a Social Media to Promote Weight Management Engagement in Adolescents with Severe Obesity: Pilot Study

Parks¹,

Moore²,

Li³

et al. 2018

JMIR Res Protoc

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BackgroundSevere obesity in adolescents has deleterious physical and psychological complications necessitating frequent multi-disciplinary clinic visits. Greater treatment engagement has been equated with weight-loss. However, traditional medical weight-loss programs for adolescents have high attrition rates. Social media is widely used by adolescents and may enhance medical weight management engagement and success.ObjectiveThe first objective was to examine the acceptability and feasibility of using a private social media group as an adjunct to medical weight management in youth ages 14 to 20 years with severe obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2]. The second objective was to pilot test the use of social media to improve treatment engagement and decrease attrition rates.MethodsIn this single arm, 12 week pre-post study, participants attended individual clinic visits and participated in a moderated private social media group that received nutrition, exercise, and behavior change social media communications or “posts” 3 to 4 times/week. Youth commented and/or liked posts from the moderator and each other. Social media engagement was measured with the number of likes and comments on social media. Clinic attrition was compared, measuring clinic visit attendance 12 weeks prior, during, and after the intervention with mixed linear regression models. Correlations of social media engagement with changes from baseline for BMI, BMI-z score, and psychosocial measures were fit.ResultsAll 13 enrolled youth completed the study and reported that the group was enjoyable, helpful, reinforced their weight management program, and would recommend using social media to support other youth. The pilot trial was acceptable and feasible. Youth mean weekly engagement (likes + comments) in social media was greater than once a day (8.6 ±3.6). Compared to 12 weeks prior to the intervention, there was no significant decrease in clinic visit attendance at the end of the intervention (M=.231, P=.69) or 12 weeks at the conclusion of the intervention (M=.589, P=.28). Increased social media comments correlated with weight change (r=–.633, P=.04).ConclusionsThis pilot trial demonstrated that the use of social media as an adjunct to medical weight management was feasible and acceptable to adolescents with severe obesity. Based upon these preliminary findings, social media may be an effective way to mitigate attrition from obesity treatment programs, and improve health outcomes in this high-risk population.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Feasibility of a Social Media to Promote Weight Management Engagement in Adolescents with Severe Obesity: Pilot Study

Parks¹,

Moore²,

Li³

et al. 2018

JMIR Res Protoc

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, the movement of specialty mental health care, an intensive public health intervention, from the hands of clinicians and into standalone digital interventions ignores decades of research about the importance of social support and may further isolate individuals who need human connection the most. Given the robust social support literature, it is not surprising that digital interventions with the highest levels of engagement are those that include some form of human interaction [ 20 , 21 ]. In this commentary, we argue for a renewed focus on universal mental health prevention and targeted intervention [ 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital Mental Health: The Answer to the Global Mental Health Crisis?

Rudd

Beidas

2020

JMIR Ment Health

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Digital mental health interventions are often touted as the solution to the global mental health crisis. However, moving mental health care from the hands of professionals and into digital apps may further isolate individuals who need human connection the most. In this commentary, we argue that people, our society’s greatest resource, are as ubiquitous as technology. Thus, we argue that research focused on using technology to support all people in delivering mental health prevention and intervention deserves greater attention in the coming decade.

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“…One compromise approach is to provide an app together with human coaching to deliver behavioural strategies. This has been established in the US with the Noom app (Kim, Ray & Veluscek, 2017; Toro-Ramos et al., 2017; Chin et al, 2016; Michaelides et al, 2016). Analysis of this approach indicates greater weight loss compared to apps without coaching (−5.2% by one year follow up) but the employment of human coaches increases the cost of the intervention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and feasibility study of an app (Ladle) for weight loss and behaviour change

Ogden

Maxwell²,

Wong³

2019

PeerJ

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Background Weight management interventions involving behaviour change often utilise face to face interventions which include evidence based behaviour change strategies yet are costly and time intensive. In contrast, digital interventions cost less and have a wider reach yet tend to lack an evidence base and are less effective. Aims The present study therefore aimed to develop an evidence based behaviour change low cost app for weight management and to provide a preliminary analysis of its effectiveness. Methods The Ladle app was developed through evidence review and feedback from health care professionals and patients and consists of a 12 week course focusing on six habits and weight loss facilitated through 36 audio psychological lessons and 12 lessons specifically on the six habits. Each lesson was between 2–5 min (approx. 168 min of lessons). It was evaluated in terms of completion rate, weight loss, adoption of the six habits and participant feedback. Results The results showed a completion rate of 44%, that 52% of Completers showed weight loss of at least 5%, 79% showed weight loss of at least 3%, the median % weight lost was −5% and the median weight loss was −3.8 kg. Further, by the end of 12 weeks the majority (>80%) of participants had adopted four of the six habits for at least 5 days a week and nearly half (45%) had adopted the remaining two habits for at least 4 days out of 7. Feedback comments were mainly positive (n = 80) focusing mostly on the content of the lessons. Some comments were neutral (n = 56) and involved a statement of commitment or a description of a challenge and a minority were negative (n = 23) describing some technical issues which were addressed as the evaluation progressed. Conclusion The new Ladle app offers an evidenced based alternative to more intensive face to face interventions. On preliminary analysis it would seem to have lower completion rates than some more intensive interventions but comparable effectiveness for weight loss. It can also improve habits and is less time-intensive and costly to deliver. Participant feedback was generally positive.

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Complementary Support from Facilitators and Peers for Promoting mHealth Engagement and Weight Loss

Cited by 37 publications

References 43 publications

Assessing the Feasibility of a Social Media to Promote Weight Management Engagement in Adolescents with Severe Obesity: Pilot Study

Assessing the Feasibility of a Social Media to Promote Weight Management Engagement in Adolescents with Severe Obesity: Pilot Study

Digital Mental Health: The Answer to the Global Mental Health Crisis?

Development and feasibility study of an app (Ladle) for weight loss and behaviour change

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