A User-Centered Chatbot (Wakamola) to Collect Linked Data in Population Networks to Support Studies of Overweight and Obesity Causes: Design and Pilot Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Obesity and overweight are a serious health problem worldwide with multiple and connected causes. Simultaneously, chatbots are becoming increasingly popular as a way to interact with users in mobile health apps. OBJECTIVE This study reports the user-centered design and feasibility study of a chatbot to collect linked data to support the study of individual and social overweight and obesity causes in populations. METHODS We first studied the users’ needs and gathered users’ graphical preferences through an open survey on 52 wireframes designed by 150 design students; it also included questions about sociodemographics, diet and activity habits, the need for overweight and obesity apps, and desired functionality. We also interviewed an expert panel. We then designed and developed a chatbot. Finally, we conducted a pilot study to test feasibility. RESULTS We collected 452 answers to the survey and interviewed 4 specialists. Based on this research, we developed a Telegram chatbot named Wakamola structured in six sections: personal, diet, physical activity, social network, user's status score, and project information. We defined a user's status score as a normalized sum (0-100) of scores about diet (frequency of eating 50 foods), physical activity, BMI, and social network. We performed a pilot to evaluate the chatbot implementation among 85 healthy volunteers. Of 74 participants who completed all sections, we found 8 underweight people (11%), 5 overweight people (7%), and no obesity cases. The mean BMI was 21.4 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (normal weight). The most consumed foods were olive oil, milk and derivatives, cereals, vegetables, and fruits. People walked 10 minutes on 5.8 days per week, slept 7.02 hours per day, and were sitting 30.57 hours per week. Moreover, we were able to create a social network with 74 users, 178 relations, and 12 communities. CONCLUSIONS The Telegram chatbot Wakamola is a feasible tool to collect data from a population about sociodemographics, diet patterns, physical activity, BMI, and specific diseases. Besides, the chatbot allows the connection of users in a social network to study overweight and obesity causes from both individual and social perspectives.

Download Full-text

A User-Centered Chatbot (Wakamola) to Collect Linked Data in Population Networks to Support Studies of Overweight and Obesity Causes: Design and Pilot Study

JMIR Medical Informatics ◽

10.2196/17503 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. e17503

Author(s):

Sabina Asensio-Cuesta ◽

Vicent Blanes-Selva ◽

J Alberto Conejero ◽

Ana Frigola ◽

Manuel G Portolés ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Network ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Linked Data ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

User Centered Design ◽

Diet Patterns ◽

Status Score ◽

User Centered

Background Obesity and overweight are a serious health problem worldwide with multiple and connected causes. Simultaneously, chatbots are becoming increasingly popular as a way to interact with users in mobile health apps. Objective This study reports the user-centered design and feasibility study of a chatbot to collect linked data to support the study of individual and social overweight and obesity causes in populations. Methods We first studied the users’ needs and gathered users’ graphical preferences through an open survey on 52 wireframes designed by 150 design students; it also included questions about sociodemographics, diet and activity habits, the need for overweight and obesity apps, and desired functionality. We also interviewed an expert panel. We then designed and developed a chatbot. Finally, we conducted a pilot study to test feasibility. Results We collected 452 answers to the survey and interviewed 4 specialists. Based on this research, we developed a Telegram chatbot named Wakamola structured in six sections: personal, diet, physical activity, social network, user's status score, and project information. We defined a user's status score as a normalized sum (0-100) of scores about diet (frequency of eating 50 foods), physical activity, BMI, and social network. We performed a pilot to evaluate the chatbot implementation among 85 healthy volunteers. Of 74 participants who completed all sections, we found 8 underweight people (11%), 5 overweight people (7%), and no obesity cases. The mean BMI was 21.4 kg/m2 (normal weight). The most consumed foods were olive oil, milk and derivatives, cereals, vegetables, and fruits. People walked 10 minutes on 5.8 days per week, slept 7.02 hours per day, and were sitting 30.57 hours per week. Moreover, we were able to create a social network with 74 users, 178 relations, and 12 communities. Conclusions The Telegram chatbot Wakamola is a feasible tool to collect data from a population about sociodemographics, diet patterns, physical activity, BMI, and specific diseases. Besides, the chatbot allows the connection of users in a social network to study overweight and obesity causes from both individual and social perspectives.

Download Full-text

User-Centered Design of mHealth Apps to Promote Physical Activity Behavior Change in People With Disabilities

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1016/j.apmr.2018.07.313 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 99 (10) ◽

pp. e88

Author(s):

Mohanraj Thirumalai ◽

Byron Lai ◽

Jereme Wilroy ◽

Hui-Ju Young ◽

Tapan Mehta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Behavior Change ◽

People With Disabilities ◽

Physical Activity Behavior ◽

User Centered Design ◽

Activity Behavior ◽

Mhealth Apps ◽

Physical Activity Behavior Change ◽

User Centered

Download Full-text

Capturing feedback from user sub-groups in user-centered design: A protocol integrating key user characteristics in the development of digital support for seniors’ fall preventive physical activity (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.20061 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Åsa Revenäs ◽

Ann-Christin Johansson ◽

Maria Ehn

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Technology Use ◽

User Involvement ◽

Activity Level ◽

User Centered Design ◽

Iterative Development ◽

Key Characteristics ◽

Per Se ◽

Systematic Collection ◽

User Centered

BACKGROUND User-centered design (UCD) aims at understanding the users’ perspective and shape new solutions thereafter. UCD gives access to users’ needs and requirements and thereby improves solutions design. However, involving users in the development process does not per se guarantee that feedback from different sub-groups of users are equally shaping the development, and therefore resulting in solutions that are useful for the whole intended population. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to describe a protocol to integrate key characteristics of user sub-groups in collection and analysis of feedback in User-centered design (UCD) of a digital motivation support for fall preventive physical activity (PA) in seniors (older adults, 65 years of age or older). METHODS This study follows a UCD model, with early user involvement as one key principle. The protocol describes a method for systematic collection and prioritization of user feedback during the iterative development of two digital applications. For each of the four cycles in the iterative development, the aim is to recruit a group of at least 8 seniors (65 years or older, independent living) with equal distribution of men and women and a variation in both PA level and technology use. Procedures for collecting data during and after the user tests are mainly qualitative. RESULTS This paper describes a novel approach for integrating key characteristics of users sub-groups in UCD. We have developed a protocol for ensuring that feedback from both genders, persons with varied activity level and technology use are considered in the iterative development of a digital motivation support for seniors’ PA. The method has been applied in a study that has been approved by the regional ethics committee in Uppsala (Dnr 2018/044). Data collection and iterative development of the digital support has been conducted during Spring-Summer 2018 and the result is expected to be published during 2020/2021. CONCLUSIONS User involvement is the golden standard in systems design. However, it does not per se guarantee that feedback from different user sub-groups are equally shaping the development, and hence resulting in a solution that is useful for the whole intended population. Methods for systematic collection, analysis and prioritization of feedback from sub-groups might be particularly important in heterogenous groups, such as seniors. This protocol can contribute to identify and improve our understanding of potential differences in use and experiences of technical support systems for fall preventive PA among user-subgroups of seniors. This knowledge can be relevant for developing technology support that is appropriate, useful and attractive to the users and for enabling design of technology targeting specific user sub-groups, i.e. tailoring of the support. The protocol needs to be further used and investigated to understand its potential value.

Download Full-text

Overweight and obesity's prevalence, identification of risk factors in children and teenagers in two schools of Monteria

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.806 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S559-S559

Author(s):

A.M. Romero Otalvaro ◽

M. Perez-Vargas ◽

V. Pena ◽

M. Martha

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Food Habits ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

National Poll ◽

Competing Interest ◽

And Gender ◽

Activity Questionnaire

The research has the intention to determinate the prevalence, risky factors of overweight and obesity in a sample of six hundred people between seven (7) and eighteen (18) years old, chosen by a simple random sampling with exclusion criteria, pathologies that affect the weight and size (diabetes paralysis; malformation or physic limitations). The data was collected through national poll of the nutritional situation and Colombia ENSIN, in the demographic and anthropometric information register and poll identification of food habits and physical activity questionnaire for children PAQ-C. The comparative analysis was made through SPSS in two determined populations by the low and medium social status criteria in the overweight and obesity variables, risky factors related with physical activity food habits and gender. It can be concluded that the population presents normal weight, prone to obesity. Based on the medium socioeconomic status, the percent of male obese teenagers is higher than the female one. Children independent of the socioeconomic status, present a higher percentage of obesity than teenagers. A high percent of population do not do physical exercise. There is no evidence of the relation between socioeconomic level and the presence of unhealthy food habits.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Total Serum Antioxidant Capacity in Healthy Normal Weight and Asymptomatic Overweight Adults

Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes ◽

10.1055/s-0043-107783 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 125 (07) ◽

pp. 470-477 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ana Petelin ◽

Paola Tedeschi ◽

Annalisa Maietti ◽

Mihaela Jurdana ◽

Vincenzo Brandolini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Total Serum ◽

Nutrient Intakes ◽

Fat Accumulation ◽

Nutritional Habits ◽

Overweight Adults

Abstract Obesity and overweight are major contributors to the burden of chronic disease. Both are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation and by increased production of free radicals leading to oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether overweight and fat accumulation is associated with serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in men and women, irrespective of nutritional habits, nutrient intakes, physical activity, smoking, and other confounders, which may be responsible for modifying the association between serum TAC and overweight/obesity measures. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 normal weight and 60 overweight adults aged 25–49. All participants underwent standard anthromorphological measurements of body composition, blood pressure and biochemical measurements, aerobic capabilities assessment and dietary intake evaluation. TAC was measured by using the photochemioluminescence method. All data were analysed with SPSS software. Men had higher values of TAC than women and concentrations of TAC were significantly higher in overweight subjects compared to normal weight subjects. In the present study TAC tended to be increased by various metabolic risk factors, especially overweight/obesity parameters (body mass index, body fat), inflammation and increased serum levels of Cysteine, irrespective of nutritional habits, nutrient intakes, physical activity and smoking. Overweight and obesity at an early stage may stimulate TAC. Therefore, the elevation of TAC in overweight adults may be a compensatory response to oxidative stress, generated by reactive oxygen species.

Download Full-text

Level of physical activity and obesity among the adolescent school children in Bhaktapur: A cross-sectional pilot study

Journal of Kathmandu Medical College ◽

10.3126/jkmc.v5i2.18411 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 65-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nayan Kamal Sainju ◽

Naresh Manandhar ◽

Anira Vaidya ◽

Sunil Kumar Joshi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pilot Study ◽

School Children ◽

Private School ◽

Behavior Pattern ◽

Well Being ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Health Concern ◽

Growth Chart ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: Physical activity is crucial for overall health and well-being of an individual. As childhood obesity has emerged as a serious public health concern, physical activity is a proven tool for prevention and treatment of this type of obesity. As lifestyle and behavior pattern is formed at the adolescence age, it is essential that healthy lifestyle and good food habit should start at this age. Hence, we aimed to fi nd the level of physical activity and obesity among the adolescent school children in this study.Objectives: The objective of the study was to fi nd the level of physical activity and obesity among the adolescent school children in a Bhaktapur school.Method: This is a cross sectional pilot study conducted in October 2015 at a private school in Bhaktapur, Nepal. A total of 83 students studying in class eight, nine and ten were included in the study. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used, height and weight were measured and a BMI index for age percentile growth chart was used to interpret the Basal Metabolic Index of the participants.Result: Out of the total 83 respondents, 31.3% of the respondents performed physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day for more than three days per week and 37.3% participants performed the same for less than three days per week. Twelve percent of the total participants were either overweight or obese.Conclusion: The amount of physical activity in majority of the students is not adequate. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescence is high. Sedentary life style, increasing trends of indoor game and consumption of junk food are responsible for increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in the adolescence. Journal of Kathmandu Medical CollegeVol. 5, No. 2, Issue 16, Apr.-Jun., 2016, page: 65-70

Download Full-text

Overweight or Obesity, Gender, and Age Influence on High School Students of the City of Toluca’s Physical Fitness

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2017/9546738 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Flor de Maria Cruz Estrada ◽

Patricia Tlatempa Sotelo ◽

Roxana Valdes-Ramos ◽

José Aldo Hernández Murúa ◽

Rafael Manjarrez-Montes-de-Oca

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High School Students ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Skinfold Thickness ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

School Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Probabilistic Sampling ◽

The City

Material and Method. This is a prospective, cross-sectional, and correlational study with a probabilistic sampling in which 150 teenagers from three different high schools from the city of Toluca, Mexico, aged 15–17, were assessed. Objective. To determine if weight, age, and gender have an influence on physical fitness evaluated with the EUROFIT and ALPHA-FITNESS batteries. Results. Women have a higher overweight and obesity rate than men (3 : 1). Adolescents who have normal weight have regular physical fitness (74.9%). When comparing genders we found that men have a higher mean than women in the tests, except for skinfold thickness and waist circumference. Age was only correlated with the plate tapping test (p=0.001). There are significant differences in the standing broad jump test and the Course-Navette of the EUROFIT and ALPHA-FITNESS batteries (p=0.000). Conclusions. It is likely that regular physical activity, and not normal weight, helps generate healthy physical fitness. Male subjects had a higher mean than women, reporting a better physical fitness and more frequent physical activity.

Download Full-text

Association of Irisin Plasma Levels with Anthropometric Parameters in Children with Underweight, Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obesity

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2017/2628968 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Leticia Elizondo-Montemayor ◽

Christian Silva-Platas ◽

Alejandro Torres-Quintanilla ◽

Carlos Rodríguez-López ◽

Guillermo U. Ruiz-Esparza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Fat Free Mass ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Anthropometric Parameters ◽

Considerable Controversy

The correlations between irisin levels, physical activity, and anthropometric measurements have been extensively described in adults with considerable controversy, but little evidence about these relationships has been found in children. The objective of this study is to correlate the plasma levels of irisin in underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese children with anthropometric parameters and physical activity levels. A cross-sample of 40 children was divided into the following groups on the basis of body mass index (BMI) percentile. The correlations of plasma irisin levels with physical activity, anthropometric, and metabolic measurements were determined. Plasma irisin levels (ng/mL) were lower for the underweight group (164.2 ± 5.95) than for the normal weight and obese groups (182.8 ± 5.58;p<0.05). Irisin levels correlated positively with BMI percentile (0.387), waist circumference (0.373), and fat-free mass (0.353;p<0.05), but not with body muscle mass (−0.027). After a multiple linear regression analysis, only BMI percentile (0.564;p<0.008) showed a positive correlation with irisin. Our results indicated no association with metabolic parameters. A negative correlation with physical activity was observed. Interrelationships among body components might influence irisin levels in children.

Download Full-text

Adolescents who are overweight or obese - the relevance of a social network to engaging in physical activity: a qualitative study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10727-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ingeborg B. Skogen ◽

Kjetil L. Høydal

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Health Care ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Young People ◽

School Health ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Primary Health ◽

Overweight Or Obesity

Abstract Background Increased level of physical activity (PA) is one of the approaches offered by school health services in Norway for the prevention and treatment of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. Research has found that young people with overweight and obesity tend to participate in less physical activity than youth of healthier weight. They also tend to perceive several barriers to PA at the environmental, interpersonal, and individual levels. This paper explores how adolescents’, who receive follow-up of weight management in primary health care, experience barriers to and facilitators for engaging in physical activity within their social networks. Methods This is a qualitative study with an explorative design inspired by phenomenological ideas based on analysis of semi-structured interviews with 10 adolescents aged 13–18. Interviews were conducted with young people with overweight or obesity in weight-related follow-up in primary health care settings in various regions in Norway. Results The results describe the barriers to and facilitators of PA in the adolescents’ social networks. The study reveals a strong emphasis on the importance of a social network for engaging in PA. According to these adolescents’ experiences of PA in their social networks, organizing PA groups that consist of similarly young people with overweight can contribute to an increased level of PA and help modify their negative perceptions of such activity. Conclusions This study finds that young people with overweight and obesity place a strong emphasis on a social network where they feel equal to others if they are to engage in PA. The study suggests that School Health Nurses should establish a social network of adolescents in the same situation, in the form of organized activity groups for young people with overweight or obesity, rather than advice on increased participation in ordinary organized sports or individual exercising. This can facilitate an increase in the PA level among this group of young people.

Download Full-text