The Relationship Between Weight Loss Outcomes and Engagement in a Mobile Behavioral Change Intervention: Retrospective Analysis. Carey, A., Yang, Q., DeLuca, L., Toro-Ramos, T., Kim, Y., & Michaelides, A. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 9(11):e30622, November, 2021.
doi  abstract   bibtex   
BACKGROUND: There is large variance in weight loss outcomes of digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs). It has been suggested that different patterns of engagement in the program could be responsible for this variance in outcomes. Previous studies have found that the amount of engagement on DBCIs, such as the number of meals logged or articles read, is positively associated with weight loss. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study extends previous research by observing how important weight loss outcomes (high weight loss: 10% or greater body weight loss; moderate weight loss: between 5% to 10%; stable weight: 0 plus or minus 1%) are associated with engagement on a publicly available mobile DBCI (Noom) from 9 to 52 weeks. METHODS: Engagement and weight data for eligible participants (N=11,252) were extracted from the Noom database. Engagement measures included the number of articles read, meals logged, steps recorded, messages to coach, exercise logged, weigh-ins, and days with 1 meal logged per week. Weight was self-reported on the program. Multiple linear regressions examined how weight loss outcome (moderate and high vs stable) was associated with each engagement measure across 3 study time periods: 9-16 weeks, 17-32 weeks, and 33-52 weeks. RESULTS: At 9-16 weeks, among the 11,252 participants, 2594 (23.05%) had stable weight, 6440 (57.23%) had moderate weight loss, and 2218 (19.71%) had high weight loss. By 33-52 weeks, 525 (18.21%) had stable weight, 1214 (42.11%) had moderate weight loss, and 1144 (39.68%) had high weight loss. Regression results showed that moderate weight loss and high weight loss outcomes were associated with all engagement measures to a significantly greater degree than was stable weight (all P values \textless.001). These differences held across all time periods with the exception of exercise for the moderate weight loss category at 1 time period of 33-52 weeks. Exercise logging increased from 9 to 52 weeks regardless of the weight loss group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that these clinically important weight loss outcomes are related to the number of articles read, meals logged, steps recorded, messages to coach, exercise logged, weigh-ins, and days with 1 meal logged per week both in the short-term and long-term (ie, 1 year) on Noom. This provides valuable data on engagement patterns over time on a self-directed mobile DBCI, can help inform how interventions tailor recommendations for engagement depending on how much weight individuals have lost, and raises important questions for future research on engagement in DBCIs.
@article{carey_relationship_2021,
	title = {The {Relationship} {Between} {Weight} {Loss} {Outcomes} and {Engagement} in a {Mobile} {Behavioral} {Change} {Intervention}: {Retrospective} {Analysis}.},
	volume = {9},
	copyright = {©Alissa Carey, Qiuchen Yang, Laura DeLuca, Tatiana Toro-Ramos, Youngin Kim, Andreas Michaelides. Originally published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth  (https://mhealth.jmir.org), 08.11.2021.},
	issn = {2291-5222},
	doi = {10/gnfspt},
	abstract = {BACKGROUND: There is large variance in weight loss outcomes of digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs). It has been suggested that different patterns of  engagement in the program could be responsible for this variance in outcomes.  Previous studies have found that the amount of engagement on DBCIs, such as the  number of meals logged or articles read, is positively associated with weight loss.  OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study extends previous research by observing how  important weight loss outcomes (high weight loss: 10\% or greater body weight loss;  moderate weight loss: between 5\% to 10\%; stable weight: 0 plus or minus 1\%) are  associated with engagement on a publicly available mobile DBCI (Noom) from 9 to 52  weeks. METHODS: Engagement and weight data for eligible participants (N=11,252) were  extracted from the Noom database. Engagement measures included the number of  articles read, meals logged, steps recorded, messages to coach, exercise logged,  weigh-ins, and days with 1 meal logged per week. Weight was self-reported on the  program. Multiple linear regressions examined how weight loss outcome (moderate and  high vs stable) was associated with each engagement measure across 3 study time  periods: 9-16 weeks, 17-32 weeks, and 33-52 weeks. RESULTS: At 9-16 weeks, among the  11,252 participants, 2594 (23.05\%) had stable weight, 6440 (57.23\%) had moderate  weight loss, and 2218 (19.71\%) had high weight loss. By 33-52 weeks, 525 (18.21\%)  had stable weight, 1214 (42.11\%) had moderate weight loss, and 1144 (39.68\%) had  high weight loss. Regression results showed that moderate weight loss and high  weight loss outcomes were associated with all engagement measures to a significantly  greater degree than was stable weight (all P values {\textless}.001). These differences held  across all time periods with the exception of exercise for the moderate weight loss  category at 1 time period of 33-52 weeks. Exercise logging increased from 9 to 52  weeks regardless of the weight loss group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that  these clinically important weight loss outcomes are related to the number of  articles read, meals logged, steps recorded, messages to coach, exercise logged,  weigh-ins, and days with 1 meal logged per week both in the short-term and long-term  (ie, 1 year) on Noom. This provides valuable data on engagement patterns over time  on a self-directed mobile DBCI, can help inform how interventions tailor  recommendations for engagement depending on how much weight individuals have lost,  and raises important questions for future research on engagement in DBCIs.},
	language = {eng},
	number = {11},
	journal = {JMIR mHealth and uHealth},
	author = {Carey, Alissa and Yang, Qiuchen and DeLuca, Laura and Toro-Ramos, Tatiana and Kim, Youngin and Michaelides, Andreas},
	month = nov,
	year = {2021},
	pmid = {34747706},
	pmcid = {PMC8663454},
	keywords = {Noom, app, application, behavioral change, digital behavior change interventions, engagement, mHealth, obesity, weight management},
	pages = {e30622},
}

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