The Effect of a Mobile and Wearable Device Intervention on Increased Physical Activity to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome: Observational Study

BackgroundResearch on whether wearable devices and app-based interventions can effectively prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS) by increasing physical activity (PA) among middle-aged people living in the rural areas of South Korea remains insufficient. ObjectiveThe a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hee Jin Kim, Kang Hyun Lee, Jung Hun Lee, Hyun Youk, Hee Young Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2022-02-01
Series:JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Online Access:https://mhealth.jmir.org/2022/2/e34059
_version_ 1797735299873243136
author Hee Jin Kim
Kang Hyun Lee
Jung Hun Lee
Hyun Youk
Hee Young Lee
author_facet Hee Jin Kim
Kang Hyun Lee
Jung Hun Lee
Hyun Youk
Hee Young Lee
author_sort Hee Jin Kim
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundResearch on whether wearable devices and app-based interventions can effectively prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS) by increasing physical activity (PA) among middle-aged people living in the rural areas of South Korea remains insufficient. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether mobile and wearable device interventions can improve health indicators, including PA, in MetS risk groups in rural South Korea. MethodsIn this clinical trial, performed from December 2019 to June 2020, participants were asked to use a wearable device (GalaxyWatch Active1) alone (standard intervention) or the wearable device and mobile app (Yonsei Health Korea) (enhanced intervention). Clinical measures and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) scores were evaluated initially and after 6 months. The number of steps was monitored through the website. The primary outcome was the difference in PA and clinical measures between the enhanced intervention and standard intervention groups. The secondary outcome was the decrease in MetS factors related to the change in PA. ResultsA total of 267 participants were randomly selected, 221 of whom completed the 6-month study. Among the 221 participants, 113 were allocated to the enhanced intervention group and 108 were allocated to the standard intervention group. After 6 months, the body weight and BMI for the enhanced intervention group decreased by 0.6 (SD 1.87) and 0.21 (SD 0.76), respectively (P<.001). In both groups, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) decreased (P<.001). The total PA was approximately 2.8 times lower in the standard intervention group (mean 44.47, SD 224.85) than in the enhanced intervention group (mean 124.36, SD 570.0). Moreover, the enhanced intervention group achieved the recommended level of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), whereas the standard intervention group did not (188 minutes/week vs 118 minutes/week). Additionally, the number of participants in the enhanced intervention group (n=113) that reached 10,000 daily steps or more after the intervention increased from 9 (8.0%) to 26 (23.1%) (P=.002), whereas this number did not increase significantly in the standard intervention group (n=108), from 8 (7.4%) to 16 (14.8%) (P=.72). The number of participants without any MetS factors increased by 12 (11%) and 8 (7%) in the enhanced and standard intervention group, respectively. ConclusionsPA monitoring and an intervention using wearable devices were effective in preventing MetS in a rural population in Korea. Blood pressure, waist circumference, and HbA1c were improved in both intervention groups, which were effective in reducing MetS factors. However, only the participants in the enhanced intervention group continuously increased their MVPA and step counts above the recommended level to prevent MetS. Body weight and BMI were further improved, and a higher number of participants with zero MetS factors was attained from the enhanced intervention. Trial RegistrationClinical Research Information Service KCT0005783; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/16123
first_indexed 2024-03-12T12:57:01Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ef1f73b64fd14c49a5e0bb55a824a45e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2291-5222
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T12:57:01Z
publishDate 2022-02-01
publisher JMIR Publications
record_format Article
series JMIR mHealth and uHealth
spelling doaj.art-ef1f73b64fd14c49a5e0bb55a824a45e2023-08-28T20:52:47ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR mHealth and uHealth2291-52222022-02-01102e3405910.2196/34059The Effect of a Mobile and Wearable Device Intervention on Increased Physical Activity to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome: Observational StudyHee Jin Kimhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3152-8513Kang Hyun Leehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9664-9186Jung Hun Leehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4799-6277Hyun Youkhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4631-1504Hee Young Leehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3254-2261 BackgroundResearch on whether wearable devices and app-based interventions can effectively prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS) by increasing physical activity (PA) among middle-aged people living in the rural areas of South Korea remains insufficient. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether mobile and wearable device interventions can improve health indicators, including PA, in MetS risk groups in rural South Korea. MethodsIn this clinical trial, performed from December 2019 to June 2020, participants were asked to use a wearable device (GalaxyWatch Active1) alone (standard intervention) or the wearable device and mobile app (Yonsei Health Korea) (enhanced intervention). Clinical measures and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) scores were evaluated initially and after 6 months. The number of steps was monitored through the website. The primary outcome was the difference in PA and clinical measures between the enhanced intervention and standard intervention groups. The secondary outcome was the decrease in MetS factors related to the change in PA. ResultsA total of 267 participants were randomly selected, 221 of whom completed the 6-month study. Among the 221 participants, 113 were allocated to the enhanced intervention group and 108 were allocated to the standard intervention group. After 6 months, the body weight and BMI for the enhanced intervention group decreased by 0.6 (SD 1.87) and 0.21 (SD 0.76), respectively (P<.001). In both groups, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) decreased (P<.001). The total PA was approximately 2.8 times lower in the standard intervention group (mean 44.47, SD 224.85) than in the enhanced intervention group (mean 124.36, SD 570.0). Moreover, the enhanced intervention group achieved the recommended level of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), whereas the standard intervention group did not (188 minutes/week vs 118 minutes/week). Additionally, the number of participants in the enhanced intervention group (n=113) that reached 10,000 daily steps or more after the intervention increased from 9 (8.0%) to 26 (23.1%) (P=.002), whereas this number did not increase significantly in the standard intervention group (n=108), from 8 (7.4%) to 16 (14.8%) (P=.72). The number of participants without any MetS factors increased by 12 (11%) and 8 (7%) in the enhanced and standard intervention group, respectively. ConclusionsPA monitoring and an intervention using wearable devices were effective in preventing MetS in a rural population in Korea. Blood pressure, waist circumference, and HbA1c were improved in both intervention groups, which were effective in reducing MetS factors. However, only the participants in the enhanced intervention group continuously increased their MVPA and step counts above the recommended level to prevent MetS. Body weight and BMI were further improved, and a higher number of participants with zero MetS factors was attained from the enhanced intervention. Trial RegistrationClinical Research Information Service KCT0005783; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/16123https://mhealth.jmir.org/2022/2/e34059
spellingShingle Hee Jin Kim
Kang Hyun Lee
Jung Hun Lee
Hyun Youk
Hee Young Lee
The Effect of a Mobile and Wearable Device Intervention on Increased Physical Activity to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome: Observational Study
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
title The Effect of a Mobile and Wearable Device Intervention on Increased Physical Activity to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome: Observational Study
title_full The Effect of a Mobile and Wearable Device Intervention on Increased Physical Activity to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome: Observational Study
title_fullStr The Effect of a Mobile and Wearable Device Intervention on Increased Physical Activity to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome: Observational Study
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of a Mobile and Wearable Device Intervention on Increased Physical Activity to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome: Observational Study
title_short The Effect of a Mobile and Wearable Device Intervention on Increased Physical Activity to Prevent Metabolic Syndrome: Observational Study
title_sort effect of a mobile and wearable device intervention on increased physical activity to prevent metabolic syndrome observational study
url https://mhealth.jmir.org/2022/2/e34059
work_keys_str_mv AT heejinkim theeffectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT kanghyunlee theeffectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT junghunlee theeffectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT hyunyouk theeffectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT heeyounglee theeffectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT heejinkim effectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT kanghyunlee effectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT junghunlee effectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT hyunyouk effectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy
AT heeyounglee effectofamobileandwearabledeviceinterventiononincreasedphysicalactivitytopreventmetabolicsyndromeobservationalstudy