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.
OBEST application was a newly developed mobile/tablet application in the Thai language, innovated by the research team. There were four features in this application:
1) Goal and Rewards,
2) Daily Dietary Record,
3) Tips and News, and
4) Messaging.
Key findings of the study:
- Upon analysis, the researchers found that the intervention group reduced more body mass index (BMI) and had a higher number of participants engaging in healthy eating behaviours than the standard care group.
- However, they noted that the findings were not statistically significant, except for less frequent consumption of fast food.
- They found that the participants in the intervention group had 4.5 times higher odds of decreased engaging in fast-food consumption than the standard care group at 6 months follow-up (odds ratio, 4.5).
- They observed no statistically significant changes in PedsQL scores over 6 months in between groups.
The authors concluded, "The current study was unable to detect a significant effect of the OBEST application as an adjunct tool to the standard treatment on reducing weight in obese children and adolescents. However, the mobile application might help to increase engaging in healthy eating behaviours. Further studies with a larger sample are needed to confirm our findings."
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