Do wristbands used as an adjunct to a weight- loss program affect the outcomes in the treatment of obesity?

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a wristband as a method for reminding patients of lifestyle modification in weight-loss program. Methods: Researchers randomly assigned 64 obese patients in our outpatient department to receive either a wristband plus brief lifestyle modification program (wristband group) or a brief lifestyle modification program alone (control group). The primary outcome was the change in body weight at 6 months. The secondary outcomes included the change in body weight at 12 months; the change in waist circumference at 6 and 12 months; the percentage of participants who maintained a weight loss at 6 and 12 months; and the categorical weight loss of the participants at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Results: At 6 months, participants in both groups had lost weight. The mean (±SE) weight change among the participants in the wristband group and the control group was -4.5±1.38 and -2.13±1.09 kg, respectively (p-value = 0.193). All of the secondary outcomes displayed a trend in favor of the wristband group. Conclusion: The results of this trial of a weight-loss intervention provide potential support to use a wristband for habitual change as an adjunct to lifestyle modification in a weight-loss program. © 2018 Siriraj Medical Journal.