A 1-Year Study on Wearable Device Use and Health Coaching to Improve Movement and Heart Health in Adults with Central Obesity

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of wearable device functions alone and combined with health coaching on movement behaviors and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults aged 40 years or older with central obesity. This randomized controlled trial involves 133 adults and aims to determine whether combining wearable technology with health coaching improves physical activity, sleep, and cardiometabolic health more than no intervention or wearable device use alone. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups a control group continuing their usual lifestyle without a Fitbit device, a group using a Fitbit device with functions for step and sleep goal setting, activity prompts, and social community features, and a group using the Fitbit device plus receiving a structured lifestyle coaching program based on the U.S. CDC National Diabetes Prevention Program. The coaching includes at least 22 sessions over a year covering risk factor education, goal setting, self-monitoring, support strategies, and progress reviews. Participants visit the research lab three times at the start, after the 12-month intervention, and at 6-month follow-up. Assessments include physical measurements, questionnaires, and blood samples to analyze cardiometabolic markers. Movement behaviors are measured using an Axivity AX6 accelerometer worn for seven days at baseline and post-intervention, alongside data from Fitbit devices. Researchers monitor adherence through device data and weekly reminders. Participants completing all assessments receive a supermarket voucher as a token of appreciation.

Effects of Wearable Device Functions and Health Coaching on Device-measured Movement Behaviours and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults With Central Obesity