Mobile Health Is a Cost-Effective Strategy for Managing Obesity in Adolescents: A Randomised Controlled Trial

To compare the efficacy of remote monitoring versus traditional monitoring in reducing body mass index (BMI) in adolescents with obesity.

Adolescents with obesity attending Necker Children's Hospital in Paris for the first time were enrolled in a randomised trial. After completing the three-month intervention, patients were randomised into two groups for the maintenance phase: a remote and a traditional monitoring group. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants achieving a BMI Z-score reduction > 0.5 standard deviation at 15 months. Secondary outcomes included attrition rate, child quality of life, and lifestyle factors.

Adolescents with severe obesity, a median age of 12 years, and a BMI Z-score of 3.95, were enrolled. No significant difference in the success rate was observed between remote (n = 38) and traditional (n = 40) groups (31.6% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.69). Failure was more likely in adolescents under 14 years and those with lower social quality of life scores. The remote group had significantly lower follow-up visits during the study (p < 0.0001).

Mobile health interventions may be an effective alternative to traditional monitoring for reducing weight in adolescents with obesity during the maintenance phase while reducing the burden of clinic visits for parents and caregivers.