Nutrition Research and Practice

The Korean Nutrition Society (한국영양학회)
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The effects of dietary self-monitoring intervention on anthropometric and metabolic changes via a mobile application or paper-based diary: a randomized trial

  • Taiyue Jin (Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center) ;
  • Gyumin Kang (School of Bio-Medical Science, Korea University) ;
  • Sihan Song (Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University) ;
  • Heejin Lee (Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University) ;
  • Yang Chen (Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University) ;
  • Sung-Eun Kim (Department of Food and Nutrition, Sookmyung Women's University) ;
  • Mal-Soon Shin (School of Global Sport Studies, Korea University) ;
  • Youngja H Park (College of Pharmacy, Korea University) ;
  • Jung Eun Lee (Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2023.02.27
  • Accepted : 2023.09.21
  • Published : 2023.12.01
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Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Weight loss via a mobile application (App) or a paper-based diary (Paper) may confer favorable metabolic and anthropometric changes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized parallel trial was conducted among 57 adults whose body mass indices (BMIs) were 25 kg/m2 or greater. Participants randomly assigned to either the App group (n = 30) or the Paper group (n = 27) were advised to record their foods and supplements through App or Paper during the 12-week intervention period. Relative changes of anthropometries and biomarker levels were compared between the 2 intervention groups. Untargeted metabolic profiling was identified to discriminate metabolic profiles. RESULTS: Out of the 57 participants, 54 participants completed the trial. Changes in body weight and BMI were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.11). However, body fat and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels increased in the App group but decreased in the Paper group, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.03 for body fat and 0.02 for LDL-cholesterol). In the metabolomics analysis, decreases in methylglyoxal and (S)-malate in pyruvate metabolism and phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) in linoleic acid metabolism from pre- to post-intervention were observed in the Paper group. CONCLUSIONS: In the 12-week randomized parallel trial of weight loss through a App or a Paper, we found no significant difference in change in BMI or weight between the App and Paper groups, but improvement in body fatness and LDL-cholesterol levels only in the Paper group under the circumstances with minimal contact by dietitians or health care providers.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all participants. We also thank the Noom Coach, Inc. (Seoul, South Korea) for technological assistance.

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