The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a user-centered chatbotfor collecting linked data to study overweight and obesity causes ina target population. In total 980 people participated in the feasibility study organized in three studies: (1) within a group of university students (88 participants), (2) in a small town (422 participants), and (3) within a university community (470 participants). We gathered self-reported data through the Wakamola chatbot regarding participants diet, physical activity, social network, living area, obesity-associated diseases, and sociodemographic data. For each study, we calculated the mean Body Mass Index (BMI) and number of people in each BMI level. Also, we defined and calculated scores (1-100 scale) regarding global health, BMI, alimentation, physical activity and social network. Moreover, we graphically represented obesity risk for living areas and the social network with nodes colored by BMI. Students group results: Mean BMI 21.37 (SD 2.57) (normal weight), 8 people underweight, 5 overweight, 0 obesity, global health status 78.21, alimentation 63.64, physical activity 65.08 and social 26.54, 3 areas with mean BMI level of obesity, 17 with overweight level. Small town´s study results: Mean BMI 25.66 (SD 4.29) (overweight), 2 people underweight, 63 overweight, 26 obesity, global health status 69.42, alimentation 64.60, physical activity 60.61 and social 1.14, 1 area with mean BMI in normal weight; University´s study results: Mean BMI 23.63 (SD 3.7) (normal weight), 22 people underweight, 86 overweight, 28 obesity, global health status 81.03, alimentation 81.84, physical activity 70.01 and social 1.47, 3 areas in obesity level, 19 in overweight level. Wakamola is a health care chatbot useful to collect relevant data from populations in the risk of overweight and obesity. Besides, the chatbot provides individual self-assessment of BMI and general status regarding the style of living. Moreover, Wakamola connects users in a social network to help the study of O&O´s causes from an individual, social and socio-economic perspective.
Keywords: Mhealth; assessment; chatbot; gamification; obesity; overweight; public health; telegram; user-centered design.