Search

BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) tools may be useful platforms for dietary monitoring and assessment. ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile dietary self-monitoring app for weight loss versus a paper-based diary among adults with a BMI of 23 kg/m2 or above. MethodsA total of 33 men and 17 women aged 18-39 years participated in a 6-week randomized controlled trial. We randomly assigned participants to one of two groups: (1) a smartphone app group (n=25) or (2) a paper-based diary group (n=25). The smartphone app group recorded foods and dietary supplements that they consumed and received immediate dietary feedback using Well-D, a dietary self-monitoring app developed by our team. The paper-based diary group was instructed to record foods or supplements that they consumed using a self-recorded diary. The primary outcomes were weight, BMI, waist circumference, body fat mass, and skeletal muscle mass. We also examined changes in nutrient intake, including energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, using 3-day 24-hour recalls. Differences in changes between the two groups were analyzed using independent t tests or Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney tests. All of the data were analyzed using intent-to-treat analysis. ResultsThe mean number of days recorded was 18.5 (SD 14.1) for the app group and 15.5 (SD 10.1) for the paper-based diary group. The differences in changes in weight, BMI, and waist circumference were not significantly different between the app group and paper-based diary group (P=.33, .34, and .70, respectively). Similarly, changes in body fat mass or skeletal muscle mass did not differ between the two groups (P=.71 and .054, respectively). Although energy intake was reduced in both groups, there was no significant difference in changes in energy intake between the two groups (P=.98). ConclusionsThere were no differences in changes in anthropometric measures and nutrient intake between the app group and the paper-based diary group. Both mobile dietary self-monitoring app and paper-based diary may be useful for improving anthropometric measures. Trial RegistrationClinical Research Information Service KCT0003170; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_en.jsp?seq=11642&ltype=&rtype=

Few studies have explored the moderating effects of race on children's physical activity (PA) and psychosocial beliefs, particularly in physical education (PE) setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether children's PA behaviors and PA-related psychosocial beliefs differed as a function of race, as well as to explore any racial differences in the relationships between PA and PA-related beliefs. A total of 174 fourth and fifth grade children from two elementary schools in Minnesota participated in this cross-sectional study. During three PE sessions, children's percentages of time spent in sedentary behavior, light PA, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) were measured via ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers. A number of validated questionnaires were used to assess the children's PA-related psychosocial beliefs (i.e., self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, social support, and enjoyment) at the end of the last (third) session. Our data suggested that African American children spent significantly less percentage of time in sedentary behavior than their white counterparts, F (2, 171) = 3.33, p = 0.04. African American children's light PA, F (2, 171) = 1.99, p = 0.14, and MVPA percentage, F (2, 171) = 2.76, p = 0.06, were slightly higher than those of the other two groups; however, the differences did not reach the significance level. This study suggests that African American children are less sedentary and hold higher PA-related outcome expectancy and social support beliefs than white children.