KetoCycle mobile app for ketogenic diet: a retrospective study of weight loss and engagement

Valinskas, Sarunas; Aleknavicius, Kasparas; Jonusas, Justinas

doi:10.1186/s40795-022-00539-2

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…With regard to digital elements, general usage frequency of the intervention device (e.g., an app) has been shown to predict higher weight loss [ 12 , 29 ], testifying to the high importance of adherence for effective weight management. Self-monitoring frequency is often used as an indicator of adherence with a host of studies demonstrating that this intervention element drives weight loss [ 6 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Intervention Elements Drive Weight Loss in Blended-Care Behavior Change Interventions? A Real-World Data Analysis with 25,706 Patients

Schirmann¹,

Kanehl²,

Jones³

2022

Nutrients

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Background: Blended-care behavior change interventions (BBCI) are a combination of digital care and coaching by health care professionals (HCP), which are proven effective for weight loss. However, it remains unclear what specific elements of BBCI drive weight loss. Objectives: This study aims to identify the distinct impact of HCP-elements (coaching) and digital elements (self-monitoring, self-management, and education) for weight loss in BBCI. Methods: Long-term data from 25,706 patients treated at a digital behavior change provider were analyzed retrospectively using a ridge regression model to predict weight loss at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: Overall relative weight loss was −1.63 kg at 1 month, −3.61 kg at 3 months, −5.28 kg at 6 months, and −6.55 kg at 12 months. The four factors of BBCI analyzed here (coaching, self-monitoring, self-management, and education) predict weight loss with varying accuracy and degree. Coaching, self-monitoring, and self-management are positively correlated with weight losses at 3 and 6 months. Learn time (i.e., self-guided education) is clearly associated with a higher degree of weight loss. Number of appointments outside of app coaching with a dietitian (coach) was negatively associated with weight loss. Conclusions: The results testify to the efficacy of BBCI for weight loss-with particular positive associations per time point-and add to a growing body of research that characterizes the distinct impact of intervention elements in real-world settings, aiming to inform the design of future interventions for weight management.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Intervention Elements Drive Weight Loss in Blended-Care Behavior Change Interventions? A Real-World Data Analysis with 25,706 Patients

Schirmann¹,

Kanehl²,

Jones³

2022

Nutrients

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Better adherence and higher motivation may thus yield better weight loss results. In addition, it has been shown that actively engaging with a mobile app is associated with losing a significant amount of weight among all BMI groups ( P <.001) [ 19 ]. Nonetheless, research on how to best engage users is still relatively scarce, and optimizing the benefits that mobile apps bring is an ongoing effort.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

User Engagement and Weight Loss Facilitated by a Mobile App: Retrospective Review of Medical Records

Valinskas¹,

Nakrys²,

Aleknavicius³

et al. 2023

JMIR Form Res

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Background Intermittent fasting (IF) has gained popularity in recent years for its effect on weight loss and supposed additional health benefits, such as a positive effect on body composition and metabolic markers. Mobile apps can act as platforms that help deliver dietary interventions by improving adherence and motivation. Although the effect of IF on weight loss has been demonstrated in earlier trials, there is not much research about the engagement and weight loss results with IF apps. Objective Our main objective was to compare how a nudging platform (including smart scales) influences engagement (the extent to which users interact with the app measured by the number of active days) with the app among users who had obesity at the beginning of use. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the body weight changes among active and nonactive users and, finally, to evaluate the body composition changes of users possessing smart scales during app usage. Through this study, we hope to provide (1) more insight into how nudging (using smart scales as a nudging platform) is associated with engagement with the mobile app, (2) how engagement with the mobile app is associated with weight loss, and (3) how IF is associated with body composition. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 665 users with obesity (BMI≥30) who started using the IF app DoFasting. Of them, 244 used body composition scales that estimated body fat and body muscle values. Users were stratified into engagement groups in accordance with their activity ratio (number of active days divided by the total time of use). Baseline and final users' weight (in kg), body fat (in %), and body muscle (in %) were compared. Results Our findings suggest an association between the nudging platform (smart scales) and better engagement with the app. Smart scale users had a significantly higher activity ratio than regular users. Additionally, active DoFasting users lost significantly more weight. Further, body composition analysis showed that app usage might be related to body fat loss and an increase in muscle mass. Conclusions We found a possible association between the nudging and gamified elements and higher app engagement. Additionally, increased app engagement is associated with increased weight loss. Thus, nudging and gamified elements of mobile health apps, such as interactive tools, goals, challenges, and progress tracking, are suggested to affect engagement positively and should be investigated further in future research. Finally, the IF regime delivered through the DoFasting app might be related to the body muscle mass gain and reduced fat mass.

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Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss Facilitated by a Mobile Application and Using Body Composition Scales (Preprint)

Valinskas¹,

Nakrys²,

Aleknavicius³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BACKGROUND Intermittent fasting has gained popularity in recent years for its effect on weight loss and supposed additional health benefits, such as a positive effect on body composition and metabolic markers. Mobile applications (apps) can act as platforms that help deliver dietary interventions by improving adherence and motivation. Although the effect of intermittent fasting on weight loss has been demonstrated in earlier trials, there is not much research about the engagement and weight loss results with intermittent fasting apps. OBJECTIVE To compare how engagement with the DoFasting application influences the weight loss of the users that had obesity at the beginning of use. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the body composition changes of users possessing body composition scales during the application usage time. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 665 obese users of an intermittent fasting application DoFasting. Of those, 244 used body composition scales that estimated body fat and body muscle values. Users were stratified into engagement groups according to their activity ratio. Starting and final users' weight (kg), body fat (%), and body muscle (%) were compared. We also created logistic regression models showing how engagement with the app predicted losing at least 5% of body weight, 1% of body fat, or gaining 1% of body muscle. Finally, we have checked how using body composition scales affected engagement. RESULTS The main findings of our study are that active DoFasting users lost statistically significant amounts of weight in all BMI groups (p < 0.05) and that active users have more than three times higher chance of losing at least 5% of weight (95 % CI [1.994 – 4.956]), more than two and a half times higher chance of losing at least 1% of body fat (95 % CI [1.199 – 5.233]), and more than two times higher chance to gain at least 1% body muscle mass (95 % CI [1.053 – 4.664]), as indicated by regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS DoFasting appeared effective for weight loss with intermittent fasting in the short term. However, active engagement was necessary for better results. Gaming elements in mobile health apps are suggested to appeal to users and help engagement. CLINICALTRIAL This retrospective chart review study was approved by BRANY IRB in January 2022 (registration ID.: 22‐08‐034‐939).

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KetoCycle mobile app for ketogenic diet: a retrospective study of weight loss and engagement

Cited by 4 publications

References 36 publications

What Intervention Elements Drive Weight Loss in Blended-Care Behavior Change Interventions? A Real-World Data Analysis with 25,706 Patients

What Intervention Elements Drive Weight Loss in Blended-Care Behavior Change Interventions? A Real-World Data Analysis with 25,706 Patients

User Engagement and Weight Loss Facilitated by a Mobile App: Retrospective Review of Medical Records

Intermittent Fasting and Weight Loss Facilitated by a Mobile Application and Using Body Composition Scales (Preprint)

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