JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Obesity and overweight are serious public health problems. In 2022, 2.5 billion adults were overweight, including over 890 million adults who were living with obesity. Research indicates that internet-based weight management can more efficiently control calorie intake, alter dietary habits, and facilitate regular weight monitoring, ultimately establishing healthy lifestyles to achieve weight loss.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile health technology–based lifestyle intervention for weight management among overweight or obese occupational groups, and to explore factors that influence intervention outcomes, so as to provide scientific evidence for weight management in this population.

Methods:

From November 2024 to January 2025, a convenience sampling method was used to recruit 5859 overweight or obese working adults from 16 districts in Beijing, China. A three-month comprehensive lifestyle intervention was delivered via WeChat mini-programs and group chats. Generalized linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the effects of the intervention on participants' weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference, and lifestyle behaviors. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify key factors that influence weight loss success.

Results:

After the intervention, 68.1% of participants achieved weight reduction, 10.8% returned to normal BMI (<24), and 17.1% attained weight loss of ≥ 5%. After adjustment, body weight decreased by 2.2% (95% CI 2.1-2.3), body fat percentage decreased by 4.0% (95% CI 3.6-4.3), waist circumference decreased by 1.7% (95% CI 1.6-1.8), and hip circumference decreased by 1.5% (95% CI 1.4-1.7). The greatest improvements were observed in exercising ≥3 times per week (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.49-1.68) , sleeping ≥7 hours per day (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.42-1.59), and reducing sugary drink intake (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.52-0.62). Multivariate analysis showed that female sex (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.18-1.61), aged ≤35 years (OR=1.69, 95% CI 1.39-2.06) and 36-45 years (OR=1.21, 95% CI 1.02-1.44), baseline obesity (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.20-1.60) were more likely to lose weight successfully. In addition, using the mini-program learning module ≥4 times per week (OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.03-1.55) and practicing Baduanjin ≥4 times per week (OR=1.21, 95% CI 1.03-1.45) were associated with a higher likelihood of successful weight loss.

Conclusions:

Lifestyle interventions based on mobile health technology can effectively reduce body weight and improve body composition of overweight/obese working adults, improve health behaviors, and demonstrate good feasibility and promising short-term effects.