Understanding Obesity
The prevalence of obesity and its consequent comorbidities continues to rise globally. Markedly, in the United States it is a major cause of preventable chronic disease and thus a source of significant healthcare costs. mHealth technologies have the potential to promote healthier behaviors in individuals, including improvements in diet and exercise. This project is an exploratory study using wearable technologies as an adjunct to an existing weight loss intervention trial, combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a gut-targeted (hypocaloric) diet. We are investigating if wearable technologies can enhance adherence to treatment, providing a low-cost and unobtrusive means to improve and maintain weight loss outcomes. Insights from this effort will help us better understand the strengths and weaknesses of mHealth to train individuals over time, and its potential for helping people prevent obesity