Table 1.
Impact of wearable activity monitors on physical activity level and body weight
| Paper | Details | Intervention | Study groups | Findings | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IDEA RCT Jakicic et al. [42] |
N = 471, 71.1%, female, BMI: 31.2 Age ~ 30.9 y |
24 months Diet modification + PA increase ± wearable device |
2 groups Standard: website monitoring diet/PA Enhanced: wearable + website monitoring |
Standard: −5.9 kg* Enhanced: −3.5 kg (*p < 0.05 vs enhanced) |
In young adults with overweight/obesity, wearable technology resulted in less weight reduction than SBWL intervention |
|
TRIPPA Finkelstein et al. [34••] |
N = 800, 53.8% Female, weight: ~ 66.1 kg, Age: ~ 35.5 y |
12 months Wearable ± cash/charity incentive |
4 groups Control Wearable: Fitbit activity monitor Cash + wearable Charity + wearable |
Control: −22 MVPA, − 1.3 kg Wearable: +16 MVPA*, −0.4 kg Cash: +10 MVPA, − 0.8 kg Charity: −7 MVPA, −0.6 kg (MVPA = MVPA bout min per week, * = p < 0.05 vs baseline) |
1 year of wearable brought significant increased PA, but no change in body weight |
| Cadmus-Bertram et al. [109] |
N = 51, female, BMI: ~ 29.2 Age: ~60 y |
16 weeks PA self-monitoring targeting 150 min/week MVPA |
2 groups Web-based: Fitbit activity monitor Comparison: pedometer |
Web-based: + 62 min/week MVPA*, −0.3 kg Comparison: + 13 min/week MVPA, + 0.01 kg (*p < 0.05 vs baseline) |
Wearable associated with greater PA at 16 weeks. No change in weight but was not powered to detect this |
| Hartman et al. [25] |
N = 54, female, elevated risk breast cancer, BMI: ~31.9 Age: ~ 59.5 y |
6 months MyFitnessPal website/app to diet monitor + Fitbit activity monitor |
2 groups Control: US dietary guidelines + 2 brief calls Intervention: MyFitnessPal + Fitbit activity monitor |
Control: −0.5 kg, + 11 min/day MVPA Intervention: − 4.4 kg*, + 15 min/day MVPA (*p < 0.05 vs control) |
Technology intervention promoting PA + DM reduced weight and brought non-significant increase in MVPA |
| Nicklas et al. [110] |
N = 48, 75.5%, female BMI: 33.1 Age: ~ 70.1 y |
5 months weight loss + 5 months follow-up Diet modification + PA ± activity monitor to prevent weight regain |
2 groups Control: diet + PA Intervention: diet + PA + activity monitor |
Control: − 5.0 kg, + 5.4 min/day LPA, + 5.7 min/day MVPA Intervention: − 8.6 kg*, + 5.7 min/day LPA, + 4.3 min/day MVPA (*p < 0.05 vs control) |
Over 10 months wearable brought significantly greater WL; this was not driven by increased LPA/MVPA |
| Chen et al. [45] |
N = 40, 42.5%, female BMI: 28.3 Age: ~ 14.9 y |
6 months Wearable activity monitor + educational progression + SMS messages |
2 Groups Control: pedometer + paper food/activity diary + online education modules Intervention: Fitbit activity monitor + online education modules + biweekly SMS + smartphone app tracking PA/diet |
Control: BMI + 0.83, − 0.04 active days/week Intervention: BMI − 0.44*, + 0.73 active days/week (active day = > 60 min PA) (*p < 0.05 vs control) |
Multi-modal intervention including wearable reduced BMI in adolescents. Did not demonstrate significant increase in PA days, however no objective measurement of PA |
| Thomas et al. [111] |
N = 279, 77.5%, female BMI: ~ 33.9 Age: ~ 55.0 y |
12 months Online programme with dietary/PA monitoring ± activity tracker |
3 groups Control: newsletter Online: online program Monitor: online program + activity monitor |
Control: + 5.3 min/day MVPA, − 601.9 kcal/day*, − 1.2 kg Online: − 2.4 min/day MVPA, − 472.9 kcal/day, − 2.1 kg Monitor: − 1.3 min/day MVPA, − 479.8 kcal/day, − 1.6 kg (*p < 0.05 vs monitor) |
Following a 12-month intervention weight loss was not greater in an online program or activity monitor group than control |
Original table created by authors
BMI body mass index, y years, N number, PA physical activity, MVPA moderately vigorous physical activity, p p-value, SBWL standard behavioural weight loss