How Technology Helps Treat Obesity

Over the past decade, as childhood obesity rates have climbed, digital technology has advanced, offering new avenues in healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated both trends, highlighting the potential of digital health, such as mobile healthcare, to overcome barriers like accessibility and support healthier lifestyles in children.

Digital health, including mobile health (mHealth) and telemedicine, offers new tools for patient monitoring, clinical evaluation, and lifestyle interventions to manage and prevent obesity. These technologies provide personalized support through apps, websites, and devices that promote healthier lifestyles. Let’s take a quick look at how technology can help treat obesity.

A recent, multi-author, lengthy article in Frontiers discusses digital strategies for preventing and treating childhood obesity, evaluating their effectiveness and limitations. The article mentions that in 2020, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) launched the “HelpMeDoIt!” app, aimed at supporting weight loss in adults through goal setting, progress monitoring, and social support. However, weight loss interventions for children face additional barriers, including parental time constraints, low socioeconomic status, and lack of awareness. Educating and involving parents to improve children’s lifestyle habits is also a factor.

To explore technological innovations in childhood obesity prevention and treatment, the authors reviewed relevant studies published from 2013 to September 2023 using keywords related to pediatric obesity and digital health. Research was conducted through databases like PubMed and Scopus, and the findings were reviewed and approved by all co-authors.

What are digital health strategies?

Digital health, encompassing digital medicine (DM) and digital therapeutics (DTx), represents a growing field in healthcare. DTx involves software-guided therapeutic interventions to prevent and manage diseases, while DM uses algorithms, software, or hardware to monitor and improve health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mobile health (mHealth) as medical practice supported by mobile devices, which can enhance healthcare access, quality, and patient outcomes.

Smartphones, the most common portable electronic devices, have spurred the development of digital tools like apps to manage chronic diseases. Evidence shows that these tools, including mobile apps, web-based tools, and wearable devices, can be effective in preventing weight gain and treating obesity in children and adolescents.

Telemedicine and text messaging

Studies, including randomized control trials (RCTs), have explored its effectiveness through various methods such as phone consultations, video conferencing, and text messaging. While some interventions have led to modest but significant reductions in BMI z-Scores (BMIz), results vary, with some studies showing no significant differences between telemedicine and in-person care.

Text messaging has also been associated with positive changes in health behaviors, such as increased fruit and vegetable consumption and reduced screen time, alongside lower dropout rates in weight management programs. Despite its benefits, telemedicine faces challenges, including high costs, variability in study outcomes, and limitations in generalizing results due to diverse participant demographics. A combined approach of telehealth and in-person visits may offer better outcomes, the authors concluded.

Mobile apps

Studies have shown their effectiveness in promoting weight loss and healthy behaviors, both as standalone tools and in combination with traditional treatments. The apps the authors mention include MetaWell, OBEST, and MINISTOP 2.0. Let’s not forget Dr. Pretlow-designed W8 Loss 2 Go and BrainWeighve either.

The ability to rechannel displacement into less harmless activities rather than succumbing to urges is behind the behavior modification app, BrainWeighve, currently ramping up for a trial through the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The trial focuses on weight loss for obese teens using a self-directed, physician-supervised program withdrawing from one problem food at a time.

Web-based tools and social networks

Online communities, forums, and public health campaigns provide resources and shared experiences that can motivate healthier lifestyle choices. However, the quality of online information varies, with some content being misleading or discouraging.

Videogames

Videogames, traditionally seen as sedentary, are now being leveraged to combat obesity through exergames and serious videogames that encourage physical activity and healthy behaviors.

Exergames like “DDR Dance Dance Revolution” and “Wii Boxing” engage children in physical activity, promoting fitness while playing. Studies show these games can improve body composition, reduce weight, and enhance psychological well-being.

Serious videogames, which focus on nutrition education and behavioral change, have also shown promise. For example, “Food Rate Master” improved children’s ability to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy foods and reduced unhealthy food intake.

Virtual reality (VR) games offer immersive experiences that can motivate physical activity, though more research is needed on their safety and effectiveness for young children. Of course, there’s a caveat — food brands using video games to stealthily promote junk food.

The bottom line

Telemedicine and mHealth tools offer significant potential but require internet access, powerful devices, and user engagement. The success of these tools often depends on patient and family involvement, particularly during the development phase. Parents play a key role in shaping their children’s habits, and their involvement in mHealth strategies is vital.

Further research is needed to understand how digital engagement influences the effectiveness of these interventions. While children are heavy users of technology, it’s important to balance the benefits with the risks, particularly in terms of exposure to subtle marketing tactics through advergames.

Your responses and feedback are welcome!

Source: “Time to act on childhood obesity: the use of technology,” Frontiers, 2/14/24
“Digital health programs and childhood obesity,” Contemporary Pediatrics, 8/8/24
Image by Jessica Lewis thepaintedsquare on Unsplash