Text messaging (SMS) as a tool to facilitate weight loss and prevent metabolic deterioration in clinically healthy overweight and obese subjects: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether SMS text messaging facilitates a reduction of weight and waist circumference (WC) and favourable changes in lipid profile and insulin levels in clinically healthy overweight and obese subjects.

Design: A randomised controlled trial.

Setting and intervention: Primary care health centre in Riga, Latvia. Text messaging once in two weeks.

Subjects: A total of 123 overweight and obese men and women aged 30–45 years with no cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) or diabetes.

Main outcome measures: changes in anthropometric parameters (weight, WC, body mass index (BMI)) and biochemical parameters (lipids, fasting glucose and insulin).

Results: We found a statistically significant decrease in weight (2.4%), BMI and WC (4.8%) in the intervention group, while the control group showed a statistically non-significant increase in weight and BMI and decrease in WC. Between group results obtained over the course of a year showed statistically significant mean differences between weight (–3.4 kg (95% CI –5.5, –1.3)), BMI kg/m² (–1.14 (95% CI –1.9, –0.41)), WC (–4.6 cm (95% CI –6.8, –2.3)), hip circumference (–4.0 cm (95% CI –5.9, –2.0)) and fasting insulin (2.43 μU/ml (95% CI 0.6, 4.3)). Mean differences of changes in glucose and lipid levels were statistically non significant: fasting glucose (–0.01 mmol/l (95% CI –0.19, 0.17)), TC mmol/l (–0.04 mmol/l (95% CI –0.29, 0.21)), HDL-C (0.14 mmol/l (95% CI –0.65, 0.09)), LDL-C (–0.02 mmol/l (95% CI –0.22, 0.18)) and TG (0.23 mmol/l (95% CI –0.06, 0.52)).

Conclusions: SMS messaging in clinically healthy overweight and obese subjects facilitates a slight decrease in weight, BMI and WC. It is anticipated that the implications of this strategy might facilitate the design of preventive and promotive strategies among high risk groups in Latvia.

Keywords:

• Body weight
• body mass index
• waist circumference
• lipids
• insulin
• overweight
• obesity
• primary health care

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest in connection with the paper. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes on contributors

Vija Silina participated in the design, management and implementation of the RCT, performed data analysis, drafted and revised the paper.

Mesfin K. Tessma participated in the design of the RCT, assissted in data analysis, drafted and revised the paper.

Silva Senkane participated in the design of RCT, assissted in data analysis, drafted and revised the paper.

Gita Krievina participated in the implementation of the RCT, assissted in data analysis, revised the paper.

Guntis Bahs participated in the design and management of the RCT, revised the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by Grant No. 2014.10-4/VPP-5/16 BIOMEDICINE, which is part of the Latvian National Programme, and by the Doctoral Studies Grant of Riga Stradins University.