Use of digital technology to monitor dietary intake and physical activity: Issues of compliance in commercial weight-loss program users
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v9i1.204Keywords:
Self-monitoring, weight-control, e-health, behavioral compliance, e-trackingAbstract
Background: Health consequences resulting from excess body fat have created a need to effectively monitor weight-control behaviours. Digital technology manufactured to promote self-monitoring of weight-control behaviours is widely available, yet little is known about compliance issues associated with device use in commercial weight-loss program (CWLP) users.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine compliance issues towards using the Sensewear™ Armband (SWA™) and the CalorieSmart™ Handheld Calorie Counter (C-CS100s™).
Methods: Participants (n = 15; 100% female) enrolled in CWLP were asked to use the SWA™ and C-CS100s™ for a monitoring period of 7 consecutive days. Participants were instructed to record foods at designated meal times using the C-CS100s™ plus wear the SWA™ for all non-aquatic based activities undertaken during the monitoring period.
Results: Breakfast (M = 5.67± 1.59), lunch (M = 6.13± 1.30), and dinner (M = 6.13± 1.36) entries implied high compliance rates for use of the C-CS100s™ yet intra-individual differences in the percentage of designated meals entries recorded varied considerably (M = 85.40% ±18.04%, Range = 28.57% to 100.00%). Wear time for the SWA™ indicated device activation on the body between 8.28 to 23.40 hrs/day (MWear Time= 19.12 ±4.94 hrs/day). Lower compliance rates for the SWA™ (M = 70.76% ±17.92%, Range = 29.59% to 85.73%) were evident compared with the C-CS100s™.
Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study imply that compliance rates with device use recommendations for digital technology seem variable even over short epochs in CWLP users.
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