Weight Misperception is Not A Barrier to User Adoption of a Mobile Health (mHealth) Wrist-worn Physical Activity (PA) Monitor System: Observations from the Washington, D.C. Cardiovascular (CV) Health and Needs Assessment

Authors

• L Yingling
• S Thomas
• VM Mitchell
• C Ayers
• MH Peters-Lawrence
• G Wallen
• AT Brooks
• J Adu-Brimpong
• D Sampson
• J Henry
• A Johnson
• A Graham
• L Graham
• KL Wiley
• Jr
• TM Powell-Wiley

Abstract

Background: Mobile health technologies offer potential for targeting health behaviors among overweight and obese adults in community-based interventions. While weight misperception has been explored as a barrier to PA engagement and weight loss, less is known about its influence on user engagement with mHealth technology targeting health behaviors. Methods: A CV health evaluation was conducted in African American, faith-based organizations in Washington D.C. areas with the highest obesity rates(NCT01927783). Participants(n=99) received a wrist-worn device to self-monitor PA for 30 days and wirelessly uploaded data weekly to a data collection hub at a participating church and accessed data online.Users were participants with ≥1 days of data. Weight perception was captured using a validated body mass index(BMI)-based,ten-figure scale and categorized as no difference(ND) if self-selected figure represented measured BMI(kg/m2) or as under-assess(UND) if selected figure represented lesser weight than measured BMI.User status was compared between weight perception groups. Results: Among participants(n=99; age:58±11; BMI:33±7; 78% female),18%(n=17/96) had weight misperception or under-assessed their weight status. All UNDs were overweight or obese(age:59±12; BMI:28±3; 88% female),with most being overweight (82%, n=14/17).UNDs reported numerically lower leisure-time PA,but significantly higher moderate employment-time PA than NDs(p=0.02). Most participants(81%) used the mHealth device to self-monitor PA(age=60±12; 78% female),with no usage (UND: 82% vs. ND:82%; p=0.9) or step count(UND: 8300±4700 vs. ND:8900±4200, p=0.5) differences between groups. Conclusions: In at-risk Washington D.C. areas,weight misperception does not appear to influence adoption of a wearable mHealth device targeting PA.A PA monitoring system using a data collection hub may facilitate a targeted community-based PA intervention.

Scientific Focus Area: Health Disparities

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