JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Making lifestyle changes is an essential element of abdominal obesity (AO) reduction. To support lifestyle modification and self-management, we developed an information and communication technology (ICT)-based self-management system—DialBeticsLite—with a fully automated dietary evaluation function for the treatment of AO.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the preliminary efficacy and usability of DialBeticsLite in Japanese office workers with AO.

Methods:

A two to three-month prospective single-arm pilot study was designed to assess the effects of the intervention using DialBeticsLite. The ICT system is comprised of four modules: data transmission (body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, and pedometer counts), data evaluation, exercise input, food recording and dietary evaluation. Eligible participants were 20 years old or older office workers with AO (waist circumference (WC) ≥ 85 cm for men, or ≥ 90 cm for women). Physical parameters, blood tests, nutritional intake, and self-care behavior were compared at baseline and after the intervention.

Results:

A total of forty-eight participants provided completed data for analysis which yielded a study retention rate of 100%. The average age was 46.8 ± 6.8 years and 44 (92 %) participants were male. The overall average measurement rate of Dialbetics Lite was 98.6 ± 3.4 %. Eighty-five percent (41/48) of the subjects reported that participation in the study helped them to improve their lifestyle. Body mass index, waist circumference and visceral fat area decreased significantly after the intervention (p<.001). In addition, daily calorie intake reduced significantly (p=.024). There is significant improvement in self-care behaviour in the aspect of exercise and diet (p=.001).

Conclusions:

Using DialBeticsLite was shown to be a feasible and a potentially effective method for improving AO by providing users with a motivational framework to evaluate their lifestyle behaviors.