Smart Phones Used To Prevent Obesity

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Smart Phones Used To Prevent Obesity

• Trial for Adolescent Boys in Low-Income
  Communities

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Pediatrics

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WHY

• Adolescent boys from low income families are a
  group with an increased risk of obesity and other
  health concerns
• Changing habits at an earlier age will yield
  better results as an adult
• Heath care cost are higher in obese children and
  adults
• In low socialeconomic status, male youth are more
  at risk than female youth

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HOW

• 361 MALE STUDENTS WERE CHOSEN FROM SCREENINGS
• 181 WERE INCLUDED IN THE INTERVENTION GROUP
• 180 WERE INCLUDED IN THE CONTROL GROUP
• 20 WEEK PLAN
• TRAINED RESEARCHER GATHERED DATA

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WHAT THEY DID

• REDUCE SCREEN TIME
• MEASURED BMI
• MEASURED WAIST CIRCUMFRENCE
• MEASURED PERCENT OF BODY FAT
• MEASURED AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• MEASURED AMOUT OF SWEETENED DRINKS

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RESULTS

• CONTROL

• INTERVENTION

• N/C screen time
• N/C sweetened drinks
• About one half inch reduction in waist
  circumference
• BMI Less than 1 point reduction
• N/C body fat
• No increase in physical fitness

• 30 less screen time
• 32 less intake of sweetened drinks
• About one half inch reduction in waist
  circumference
• BMI less than one point reduction
• 2 less body fat
• Significant increase in physical fitness

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THE APP

• FACT..mobile phone ownership are accelerating
  with youth
• They may have more utility as adjuncts to
  face-to-face behavior change intervention
• Used for self monitoring and goal setting

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IS IT WORTH IT?

• Yes!!!!!!!
• Cost of implementing programs will vary school
  based, ownership of smart phones, recruitment of
  particpants
• Long term results show more than 10 reduction in
  obesity
• Obesity cost over 300 billion a year, 190 billion
  is direct medical cost

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190 Billion spent on medical cost per year in US
for obesity
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sites

• http//www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/06/19/
  Budget-Busting-US-Obesity-Costs-Climb-Past-300-Bil
  lion-Year
• Pediatrics Vol. 134 No. 3 September 1, 2014
• pp. e723 -e731
• (doi 10.1542/peds.2014-1012)