Mobile-App Might Help Children to Engage in Healthy Eating Behaviour
Childhood obesity is a major concern worldwide. The worldwide prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents aged 5-19 has noticeably increased in roughly 40 years. In a recent study, researchers have found that smartphone applications might help children to improve engagement in healthy eating behaviours. The study findings were published in the journal BMC Pediatrics on November 10, 2021.
A technology-based intervention, such as a mobile application, was a growing interest and potentially effective modality for treating obesity. While some previous studies proved the mobile applications could enhance lifestyle changes, like eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity, the results reflecting the effectiveness of mobile applications in improving healthy eating habits were mixed and inconclusive. Therefore, researchers of the Chiang Mai University, Thailand, conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the OBEST, a new mobile/tablet-based application in reducing weight and encouraging healthy eating behaviours and quality of life in children with obesity.
In this randomized controlled study, the researchers included 77 children and adolescents with obesity. The children were randomized into two groups; one received standard care combined with the OBEST application, and the other received only standard care. The major outcomes assessed were changes in weight, healthy eating behaviours, and quality of life assessed by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) from baseline to six-month follow-up between the two groups.
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