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Updated: Jul 30, 2025

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
V-care: An Application to Support Lifestyle Improvement in Children with Obesity
Cristiana Larizza1, Silvana Quaglini1, Michelangelo Chasseur2
1Dept of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University of Pavia, Italy.
Insights
This study developed a mobile app to combat childhood obesity by engaging families and using behavioral science. Pilot testing showed positive usability and acceptability among children aged 6-12 years.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Behavioral Science
- Digital Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern, increasing lifelong disease risk.
- Current interventions may lack long-term adherence.
- Family involvement and behavioral theories can enhance pediatric obesity programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reduce pediatric obesity using a mobile application-based educational program.
- To incorporate family engagement and psychological/behavioral change theories.
- To assess the usability and acceptability of the intervention in children.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving ten children aged 6-12 years.
- Utilized a mobile application delivering an educational program.
- Assessed system features via a Likert scale questionnaire (1-5).
Main Results:
- The mobile application demonstrated encouraging usability and acceptability.
- Mean scores for eight system features were above 3.
- Family involvement and behavioral design elements were key components.
Conclusions:
- The mobile application shows promise as a tool for childhood obesity reduction.
- The approach integrating family and behavioral science is feasible.
- Further research is warranted to confirm efficacy and long-term impact.
Abstract:
Obesity is increasing in the pediatric population and it represents an important risk factor for the life-long development of several diseases. The aim of this work is to reduce children obesity through an educational program delivered through a mobile application. Novelties of our approach are the involvement of the families in the program and a design inspired to psychological/behavioral change theories, with the aim of maximizing the chance of patients' compliance to the program. A pilot usability and acceptability study has been performed on ten children aged 6-12 years using a questionnaire to evaluate eight system features on a Likert scale from 1 to 5. Encouraging results were obtained: mean scores were all above 3.
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