Is technology is turning the tide for weight loss programs?

The rapid increases in technological advances are both commended and criticized.  From a medical perspective, people are living longer due to scientific advances but some fear that quality of life is not benefited by this process.  From a business perspective, knowledge is shared at a rate that seems to triple every year yet many feel that this technology has decreased the development of face to face relationship and has caused the infamous “crack-berry addictions” (the obsessive need to check your Blackberry or other phone device continuously). 

In the area of weight loss technology, online dietary management programs have been popping up everywhere and with great success.  I experimented with Weight Watcher’s online point system and have used the online Atkins program (not an endorsement).  Now, a personal mobile device has been shown, in a scientific study, to have weight loss that is three times the amount of an individual not using the device (Xuemie et al., 2011).

The device is called SenseWare, which is an armband, and it provides data analysis of your total energy expenditure (kcal/min), active energy expenditure (kcal/min), total number of steps, physical activity levels and duration, sleep duration and efficiency, lying down time and on/off body time among others.  This wearable body-monitoring technology allows an individual to work in conjunction with their health provider to set health goals. 

Although I think this advance in technology is wonderful, I propose these questions to the readers: Should individuals increase reliance on technology or should they focus upon learning behavioral change management strategies? Which is a more effective psychological solution to achieve health goals? I think that we cannot turn the clock back on technological advances, but that we should incorporate motivational and behavioral psychological strategies while increasing a person’s understanding of personal cognitive styles to achieve weight loss so that it is effective in the long term. Regardless of your preference, technological advances are improving the ability to observe a person’s health behavior in a more effective manner that relying upon self-report data and this is beneficial to us both as patients and as professionals. 

Xuemie, S., Meriwether, R. A., Hand, G. A., Wilcox, S., Dowda, M. & Blair, S. N. (2010). Electronic feedback in a diet and physical activity-based lifestyle intervention for weight loss: randomized controlled trial. 2010 AHA 50th Annual EPI/NPAM Joint Conference.  Retrieved from: http://www.bodymedia.com/Professionals/Key-Publications/2010-AHA-50th-Annual-EPI-NPAM-Joint-Conference.