JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The prevalence of obesity and diabetes among older adults is on the rise and, with an increase in the world population of adults 60 years and older, the demand for health interventions is growing. Limited research has observed the efficacy of mHealth weight loss interventions for older adults.

Objective:

To analyze mHealth engagement of middle-aged and older adults using a mobile weight loss or diabetes prevention intervention.

Methods:

2225 Adults (35-85 yrs.) received one of two curricula in a quasi-experimental study: the Healthy Weight mobile healthy weight plan (HW) by Noom (84%) or the Noom-developed mobile application of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The main outcome measure was weight over time, observed at baseline and weeks 16 and 52.

Results:

Linear mixed modeling found age to be a significant predictor of weight at Week 16 (F(2,1398.4)=9.20; P<.001; Baseline vs Week 16 beta=–.12, 95% CI (95% CI –0.18 to –0.07); suggesting that as age increases by 1 year, weight decreased by 0.12 kg. An interaction between engagement and age was also found at Week 52 (F(1,14680.51)=6.70; P=.01; such that engagement was more strongly associated with weight for younger vs. older adults (age*engagement beta=.02, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.04). Users on average lost 5.9% of their body weight at Week 16 and 6.7% of their body weight at Week 52, from baseline, meeting the CDC standards for weight loss effects on health.

Conclusions:

Age and engagement are significant predictors of weight, suggesting that older adults lost more weight to an mHealth evidence-based weight loss intervention compared to younger adults, despite their engagement. These preliminary findings suggest further clinical implications for adapting the program to older adults’ needs.