Teen obesity not helped by weight loss apps: study

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Findings from the latest study published in the journal Obesity on Nov. 4 reveal that a technology-aided weight loss strategy for young adults using a mobile app device that monitors one's exercise routine and calorie count is no more than effective than its non-techie counterpart.

The data from the research shows that after a cover period of two years, those who used a mobile app lost around one kilo, which is no more than those who were non-users of the app. These non-users only got some instructions and guide about exercise and nutrition on a paper handout, according to The Economic Times' Healthworld.

This kind of smartphone apps was designed to help individuals in their quest to lose weight. The apps can provide tips on effective weight loss strategies and also offer the chance to create a support system with other users online. They can also help track one's calorie intake and fitness activity.

"We thought that because this is an age group that is most engaged in technology, it might be possible to intervene and prevent future problems like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes while they are still developing their lifestyle habits," said lead author Laura P. Svetkey from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. "Thirty five percent of this age-group is overweight or obese, and that's a huge public health problem."

The study involves a randomized controlled trial of overweight and obese young adults within the 18- to 35-year-old age bracket. They use the Cell Phone Interaction for You (CITY) trial which randomized close to 400 youth to receive one of three weight-loss strategies: an intervention delivered by interactive smartphone application specifically designed by the research group ("cell-phone" intervention), personal coaching enhanced by smartphone self-monitoring ("personal-coaching" intervention), or simply a three-page handout (control) - all promoting healthy eating and more exercise, according to Medscape Medical News.

Svetkey also noted that CITY has been the longest and largest trial investigating the use of cell phones, with the goal of trying to modify the eating and exercise behaviors, and the results were a bit concerning with regard to these weight-loss tools.

Dr. Donna H Ryan from Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and associate editor-in-chief in the journal Obesity also cautioned that we might need to think twice and have a careful investigation first before getting into these tools that we think can solve obesity. This latest finding, she said, only tells us that we can learn from negative studies.