JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Intermittent fasting has gained popularity in recent years for its effect on weight loss and supposed additional health benefits, such as a positive effect on body composition and metabolic markers. Mobile applications (apps) can act as platforms that help deliver dietary interventions by improving adherence and motivation. Although the effect of intermittent fasting on weight loss has been demonstrated in earlier trials, there is not much research about the engagement and weight loss results with intermittent fasting apps.

Objective:

To compare how engagement with the DoFasting application influences the weight loss of the users that had obesity at the beginning of use. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the body composition changes of users possessing body composition scales during the application usage time.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 665 obese users of an intermittent fasting application DoFasting. Of those, 244 used body composition scales that estimated body fat and body muscle values. Users were stratified into engagement groups according to their activity ratio. Starting and final users' weight (kg), body fat (%), and body muscle (%) were compared. We also created logistic regression models showing how engagement with the app predicted losing at least 5% of body weight, 1% of body fat, or gaining 1% of body muscle. Finally, we have checked how using body composition scales affected engagement.

Results:

The main findings of our study are that active DoFasting users lost statistically significant amounts of weight in all BMI groups (p < 0.05) and that active users have more than three times higher chance of losing at least 5% of weight (95 % CI [1.994 – 4.956]), more than two and a half times higher chance of losing at least 1% of body fat (95 % CI [1.199 – 5.233]), and more than two times higher chance to gain at least 1% body muscle mass (95 % CI [1.053 – 4.664]), as indicated by regression analysis.

Conclusions:

DoFasting appeared effective for weight loss with intermittent fasting in the short term. However, active engagement was necessary for better results. Gaming elements in mobile health apps are suggested to appeal to users and help engagement. Clinical Trial: This retrospective chart review study was approved by BRANY IRB in January 2022 (registration ID.: 22‐08‐034‐939).