Impact of text message‑based intervention for weight control and health‑promoting lifestyle behaviors of overweight and obese children

Little information is available on the use of text messages through mobile phones to address overweight/obesity in children. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a text message‑based intervention for weight control and health‑promoting lifestyle behaviors of overweight/obese children.

This quasi‑experimental study was conducted among overweight/obese school students. Data on sociodemographic, dietary intake, sleep, sedentary behavior, physical activity (PA), and anthropometry were collected before and after the intervention. Weight and height were examined according to the standard protocols. The intervention was consisted of tailored messages for weight control and healthy lifestyle, including diet, PA, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Child attitude and his practice were asked before and after the intervention. The paired t‑test was performed to compare means of continuous variables before and after the intervention for normal distribution data. The Wilcoxon test was also used for nonnormal data.

A total of 71 boy students were included in the study (62% obese). The mean age was 10.07 years. The means of attitude score for PA, nutrition, and sleep after intervention were greater than before it, but it was significant only for PA. The mean of nighttime sleep duration of students after the intervention was significantly less. Furthermore, unhealthy score decreases after the intervention.

Three‑month lifestyle intervention as text messages had positive effects on the nutritional intake of obese children and their attitudes toward PA, but no effect on child body mass index.