Jiwa Moyez, Nyanhanda Tafadzwa, Dodson Michael
School of Medicine, Melbourne Clinical School, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Werribee, Australia.
Medical Education Unit, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Mercy Health, Werribee, Australia.
Interact J Med Res. 2023 May 29;12:e42001. doi: 10.2196/42001.
There is evidence that showing motivated people with a less-than-ideal BMI (>25 kg/m) digital and personalized images of their future selves with reduced body weight will likely trigger them to achieve that new body weight.
The purpose of this study is to assess whether digital avatars can trigger weight management action and identify some of the measurable factors that distinguish those who may be triggered.
A prospective cohort study followed participants for 12 weeks through 5 recorded interviews. Participants were screened for suitability for the study using the Cosmetic Procedure Screening Questionnaire as a measure of body dysmorphia. At interview 1, participants were shown 10 images from a "Food-pics" database and invited to estimate their calorie value. The intervention, the FutureMe app, delivered at interview 2, provided each participant an opportunity to see and take away a soft copy of an avatar of themselves as they might appear in the future depending on their calorie consumption and exercise regimen. Participants completed the readiness for change (S-Weight) survey based on Prochaska Stages of Change Model and the processes of change (P-Weight) survey. Any changes in diet, exercise, or weight were self-reported.
A total of 87 participants were recruited, and 42 participants completed the study (48% of recruited participants). Body dysmorphia was a rare but possible risk to participation. The majority (88.5%) of the participants were female and older than 40 years. The average BMI was 34.1 (SD 4.8). Most people wanted to reduce to a BMI of 30 kg/m or lose on average 10.5 kg within 13 weeks (-0.8 kg per week). Most participants stated that they would achieve these results by limiting their calorie intake to 1500 calories per day and taking the equivalent of 1 hour of bicycling per day. At interview 1, more participants were in the preparation stage of behavior change than in subsequent interviews. By interview 5, most of the participants were at the maintenance stage. Participants who overestimated the recommended number of calories were more likely to be in the contemplation stage (P=.03).
Volunteers who participated in the study were mainly women older than 40 years and beyond the contemplation stage of change for weight management, and those who took weight management action were demonstrated to have a more accurate idea of the calorie content of different foods. Most participants set ambitious targets for weight loss, but few, if any, achieve these goals. However, most people who completed this study were actively taking action to manage their weight.
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619001481167; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=378055&isReview=true.
有证据表明，向体重指数（BMI）不理想（>25kg/m²）但有积极性的人展示他们未来体重减轻后的数字化个性化形象，可能会促使他们实现新的体重目标。
本研究旨在评估数字虚拟形象是否能引发体重管理行动，并确定一些可衡量的因素，以区分可能被触发的人群。
一项前瞻性队列研究对参与者进行了为期12周的跟踪，共进行5次记录访谈。使用《美容手术筛查问卷》作为身体畸形恐惧症的衡量标准，对参与者进行研究适用性筛查。在第一次访谈中，向参与者展示了来自“食物图片”数据库的10张图片，并邀请他们估计其卡路里值。在第二次访谈中提供的干预措施——FutureMe应用程序，让每位参与者有机会查看并带走一张自己未来可能出现的虚拟形象软拷贝，这取决于他们的卡路里摄入量和锻炼方案。参与者根据普罗查斯卡改变阶段模型完成了改变准备度（S-Weight）调查和改变过程（P-Weight）调查。饮食、锻炼或体重的任何变化均为自我报告。
共招募了87名参与者，42名参与者完成了研究（占招募参与者的48%）。身体畸形恐惧症是参与研究的一种罕见但可能存在的风险。大多数（88.5%）参与者为40岁以上女性。平均BMI为34.1（标准差4.8）。大多数人希望将BMI降至30kg/m²或在13周内平均减重10.5kg（每周-0.8kg）。大多数参与者表示，他们将通过将每日卡路里摄入量限制在1500卡路里，并每天进行相当于1小时的骑自行车运动来实现这些结果。在第一次访谈时，处于行为改变准备阶段的参与者比后续访谈时更多。到第五次访谈时，大多数参与者处于维持阶段。高估推荐卡路里摄入量的参与者更有可能处于思考阶段（P=0.03）。
参与该研究的志愿者主要是40岁以上且超出体重管理改变思考阶段的女性，那些采取体重管理行动的人对不同食物的卡路里含量有更准确的认识。大多数参与者设定了雄心勃勃的减肥目标，但很少有人（如果有的话）实现这些目标。然而，大多数完成本研究的人都在积极采取行动管理体重。
澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心ACTRN12619001481167；https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=378055&isReview=true。
