Obesity, Overweight
Conditions
Keywords
smartphone, smartphone app, smartphone application, obesity, overweight, self monitoring
Brief summary
The aim of this study is to implement an exploratory pilot trial of My Meal Mate (MMM), a smartphone application developed to facilitate weight loss, assessing its feasibility and acceptability. Overweight and obese adults will be recruited from large employers within the local area. The trial will aim to recruit a sample size of 135 which is a pragmatic decision based on randomizing 45 people to each arm. Participants will be randomized to one of three groups. The researchers have developed a smartphone application for weight loss called My Meal Mate (MMM) which incorporates a large branded food and drink database. MMM was developed using focus group data collected from potential system users and by benchmarking with similar commercially available diet tracking applications. One group will receive a smartphone with the MMM app downloaded on it, one group will receive access to an online food diary and one group will be given a paper food diary. Participants will be asked to set a goal for weight loss and self-monitor their food intake and activity using their allocated study equipment. Participants will be weighed at the beginning of the trial, at 6 weeks and at 6 months. Feasibility and acceptability outcomes will be assessed.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMy Meal Mate (smartphone application)
A smartphone application called My Meal Mate (MMM) designed to facilitate weight loss. The app allows system users to set a goal for weight loss and self monitor diet and activity in an electronic diary. Users receive instant nutritional feedback and feedback via text message.
BEHAVIORALPaper food diary
The paper food diary is provided by a commerical slimming organisation called Weight Loss Resources. The diary allows the user to record daily food and drink consumed. It is accompanied by a book which provides a database of the nutritional content of 40,000 food and drinks. The diary also encourages participants to record their physical activity.
BEHAVIORALOnline food diary
The online food diary is provided by a commerical slimming organisation called Weight Loss Resources. The electronic diary allows the user to record daily food and drink consumed. System users are also encouraged to record their physical activity.
Sponsors
University of Leeds
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Aged 18-65 * BMI equal to or greater than 27 kg/m2 * Willing to commit the necessary time and effort to the study, * Employed by a large employer in Leeds (and expects to continue to be employed there for the next 12 months), * Able to read and write in English, * Able to access the internet, * Willing to be randomised to one of three groups.
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnant, planning a pregnancy within next 12 months, lactating * Has had surgery for weight loss * Taking the medication sertraline (due to associations with weight gain) * Taking anti-obesity medications or medications for diabetes
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adherence to the trial | 6 months | The number of completers in each group is a feasibility outcome. |
| Adherence to the intervention arms | 6 months | The number of days with a plausible record of diet (\>500-5000 kcal recorded) in each arm is a feasibility outcome. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Weight change (kg) | 6 months | Weight (kg) has been objectively measured at baseline and 6 months. |
| BMI change | 6 months | BMI(kg/m2) has been objectively measured at baseline and 6 months. |
| change in body fat percentage | 6 months | Body fat (%) has been objectively measured at baseline and 6 months. |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed