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

Mingzhu Zhou; Na Zhang; Yu Zhang; Xinyu Yan; Muxia Li; Wen Guo; Xiaohui Guo; Hairong He; Kaiwei Guo; Guansheng Ma

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

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 21;18(16):8825. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168825.

Authors

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 Guo³, Hairong He^{1

2}, Kaiwei Guo^{1

2}, Guansheng Ma^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, 38 Xue Yuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
² Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, 38 Xue Yuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.
³ College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.

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.

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Body Mass Index
Humans
Life Style
Obesity / therapy
Overweight* / therapy
Prospective Studies
Weight Loss*