Working Paper Review Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Healthy Lifestyle Management of Pediatric Obesity with a Hybrid System of Customized Mobile Technology: The PediaFit Project

Version 1 : Received: 4 December 2020 / Approved: 7 December 2020 / Online: 7 December 2020 (08:26:08 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Bovi, A.P.D.; Cesari, G.M.; Rocco, M.C.; Michele, L.D.; Rimauro, I.; Lugiero, A.; Mottola, S.; Anseris, A.G.E.D.; Nazzaro, L.; Massa, G.; Vajro, P. Healthy Lifestyle Management of Pediatric Obesity with a Hybrid System of Customized Mobile Technology: The PediaFit Pilot Project. Nutrients 2021, 13, 631. Bovi, A.P.D.; Cesari, G.M.; Rocco, M.C.; Michele, L.D.; Rimauro, I.; Lugiero, A.; Mottola, S.; Anseris, A.G.E.D.; Nazzaro, L.; Massa, G.; Vajro, P. Healthy Lifestyle Management of Pediatric Obesity with a Hybrid System of Customized Mobile Technology: The PediaFit Pilot Project. Nutrients 2021, 13, 631.

Abstract

Pediatric obesity management strategies suffer from a high rate of dropout and persistence of weight excess, despite the use of new tools, such as the automated mobile technology (MT). We aimed to compare the efficacy of two personalized MT protocols with/without monthly in-presence recalls in terms of better adherence to follow-up, and improved anthropometric and lifestyle parameters. MT contacts consisted in three not automated messages per week, inserted between three-monthly in-presence regular visits with (PediaFit 1.2) or without (PediaFit 1.1) monthly in-presence recalls. The sample included 103 children (mean age 10 years, range 6-14) recruited in the Pediatric Obesity Clinic between January 2017 and February 2019, randomized in Intervention group (IG) (n=24 PediaFit 1.1; n=30 PediaFit 1.2) and Control group (CG) (total n=49). Both IGs achieved significantly better results than the CGs for all considered parameters. Comparison of the two IGs at the 6th month showed that IG 1.2 had a statistically significant lower drop-out rate (10% vs. 62%), along with improved body mass index z-score, systolic blood pressure, sleep duration and physical activity. The study suggests that the hybrid association of messaging through personalized/not automated MT plus monthly in-presence recalls may be considered for a favorable outcome of pediatric obesity programs.

Keywords

obesity; dropout; mobile technology; attrition; pediatric; lifestyle

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Immunology and Allergy

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