Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Apr 12, 2018
Open Peer Review Period: Apr 13, 2018 - Aug 17, 2018
Date Accepted: Dec 12, 2018
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Change in Waist Circumference with Continuous Use of a Smart Belt: An Observational Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Several insurers and health policymakers have exerted effort to prevent and reduce cardiovascular diseases due to obesity. A new concept for conquering obesity has been introduced, and policymakers have started adopting new strategies.
Objective:
This preliminary study aimed at evaluating whether a waist circumference of smart belt users improved.
Methods:
Preexisting data on waist circumference and self-reported demographics were obtained from the WELT corporation . In the database, 451 male subjects were registered initially; 24 were excluded because of missing data. Demographic and waist circumference data of the subjects were collected. Paired t-test and repeated measurements analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to identify the change in waist circumference by considering time intervals. In addition, a linear mixed model was used to incorporate all subjects’ waist circumference data at each time point.
Results:
Compared with the baseline waist circumferences, the waist circumference (inches) decreased significantly at all time points (weeks) (week 4, β=-0.106; week 8, β=-0.300; week 12, β=-0.776; P<.01 ). Although each paired t-test had a different sample size because of loss to follow-up, the differences between baseline and each subsequent week increased. Equal continuous reduction in waist circumference was observed with ANOVA and mixed model analysis (β=-0.056, every week).
Conclusions:
A smart belt is a newly developed, wearable device that measures real-time steps, sedentary time, and waist circumference. In this study, the smart belt helps users decrease waist circumference after 12 weeks This direct-to-consumer smart health device may contribute toward reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases and controlling the increasing health cost for health insurers. Clinical Trial: None
Citation
Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.