iStart Smart for Teens for Healthy Weight Management

Using evidence to inform the design of clinical practice is a foundational principle of modern health care practice. In the present pilot study, using evidence from research on technology in clinical practice facilitated development of a hybrid intervention that combined lifestyle modification with routine clinical care. Chief among the benefits of this hybrid smartphone technology-based intervention (STB) was the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce obesity in overweight and obese adolescents. The purposes of this study were to (1) measure effects of an innovative smartphone-technology-based (STB) intervention for overweight and obese adolescents and to (2) examine the intervention's feasibility for use in primary care clinics.The STB intervention had 3 components: use of Fitbit Flex, participation in the online educational program, and receipt of bi-weekly text message during the maintenance phase. A randomized control study design was utilized. Data regard to anthropometrics (BMI and waist-hip ratio), blood pressure, levels of physical and sedentary activity, diet, and self-efficacy regarding physical activity and diet were collected at baseline, 3 month and 6 months after the baseline assessment.