Effect of wearable activity monitors in weight loss management for overweight and obese individuals
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Citation
Abstract
Worldwide, the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals is increasing at a drastic rate. This has created a major public health challenge and has a profound impact on the healthcare system in the United States, both in terms of health and economics. Obesity is a complex health issue and the reasons for its increase in prevalence is multifaceted.
Primary care providers (PCPs) are in a unique position to intervene and facilitate healthy weight loss goals for overweight and obese patients. However, an evaluation of the primary care system found that obese patients are underdiagnosed and even many of those diagnosed are not given an obesity management plan. Existing weight loss programs are challenged by high attrition rates, weight regain, resource-intensive requirements, and poor scalability. Furthermore, there are provider barriers that include limited visit time, inadequate reimbursement, lack of training, and incompetency.
Technology-assisted interventions have the potential to address these issues through time and cost savings, improved feedback, enhanced self-monitoring, and convenience of use. Wearable activity monitors are growing at a fast rate and are integrating into individuals’ everyday lives. Existing research has provided mixed evidence on the efficacy of wearable activity monitors and what role they have in weight loss management. There is data to support that these monitors could be useful in increasing weight loss and physical activity and could be as effective as standard of care. These studies are limited by the use of older models of activity monitors, short study duration times, and study populations which are lacking diversity in age, gender, and race.
The proposed study will compare weight loss and physical activity changes in overweight and obese individuals in the primary care setting utilizing a wearable activity monitor compared to standard of care. This study will use current technology, will be conducted over a duration of two years, and will focus on recruiting a diverse group of participants in age, gender, and race. The final goal is to create a better understanding of how these monitors could be potentially used by both providers and patients to aid in weight loss management. As wearable technology becomes more embedded in people’s everyday lives, it is important to have a better understanding of how it affects individual’s health. This will allow PCPs to be better equipped to individualize care and council their overweight and obese patients.