Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Weight Loss Intervention with Telephone Support for Merchant Women With Obesity in Côte d'Ivoire: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
BackgroundThe obesity rate among women in Côte d'Ivoire is rising, particularly in urban areas. Merchantry is the leading occupation for women in the country, and merchant women face a high risk of obesity owing to their sedentary lifestyle. A previous survey indicated t...
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JMIR Publications
2025-03-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e69264 |
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| author | Rui Usui Maki Aomori Shogo Kanamori Setsuko Watabe Bi Tra Jamal Sehi Kei Kawano Yuka Kanoya |
| author_facet | Rui Usui Maki Aomori Shogo Kanamori Setsuko Watabe Bi Tra Jamal Sehi Kei Kawano Yuka Kanoya |
| author_sort | Rui Usui |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundThe obesity rate among women in Côte d'Ivoire is rising, particularly in urban areas. Merchantry is the leading occupation for women in the country, and merchant women face a high risk of obesity owing to their sedentary lifestyle. A previous survey indicated that the obesity rate among merchant women was 30%, double the national average. Furthermore, 82.2% of merchant women with obesity were unaware of their condition, and 40.1% expressed no interest in losing weight. While most weight loss programs target individuals ready to lose weight, community interventions should also address those with minimal readiness. Additionally, low-cost weight-loss interventions that do not require health professionals are needed in countries with limited medical resources. Smartphones could offer a cost-effective solution as they enable self-monitoring and remote communication.
ObjectiveThis study will evaluate a low-cost smartphone-based intervention that targets individuals who are not ready to lose weight without the involvement of health professionals.
MethodsThe intervention will run for 6 months, and its efficacy will be assessed in an unblinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with 108 participants per group. All direct interventions for participants in this study will be carried out by staff without medical qualifications. The intervention group will receive weighing scales and be encouraged to record their weight with a smartphone app. Health education will be provided via weekly group messages and monthly phone calls. The evaluation will be conducted face-to-face. The primary outcome will be the weight change, and the secondary outcome will be differences in body fat percentage, abdominal circumference, and stage of behavioral change in weight loss behaviors from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months.
ResultsIn accordance with this protocol, the recruitment of participants started on August 26, 2024. A total of 216 participants were allocated, with 108 in the intervention group and 108 in the control group. The baseline survey began on November 15, 2024, and is currently ongoing as of the end of November 2024.
ConclusionsThis study will be the first in sub-Saharan African countries to implement a smartphone app-based weight loss program in sub-Saharan Africa that does not require direct intervention by health care professionals but specifically targets communities. Furthermore, if the effectiveness of this program is confirmed, it has the potential to serve as a low-cost sustainable weight loss model at the policy level.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/69264 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bcd8d9cd6c4448a3920cb47e224ee1a9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj-art-bcd8d9cd6c4448a3920cb47e224ee1a92025-08-20T03:02:55ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482025-03-0114e6926410.2196/69264Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Weight Loss Intervention with Telephone Support for Merchant Women With Obesity in Côte d'Ivoire: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled TrialRui Usuihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2236-162XMaki Aomorihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5478-7863Shogo Kanamorihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3968-2665Setsuko Watabehttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-5311-9587Bi Tra Jamal Sehihttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-5506-312XKei Kawanohttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-1101-2318Yuka Kanoyahttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-6144-7644 BackgroundThe obesity rate among women in Côte d'Ivoire is rising, particularly in urban areas. Merchantry is the leading occupation for women in the country, and merchant women face a high risk of obesity owing to their sedentary lifestyle. A previous survey indicated that the obesity rate among merchant women was 30%, double the national average. Furthermore, 82.2% of merchant women with obesity were unaware of their condition, and 40.1% expressed no interest in losing weight. While most weight loss programs target individuals ready to lose weight, community interventions should also address those with minimal readiness. Additionally, low-cost weight-loss interventions that do not require health professionals are needed in countries with limited medical resources. Smartphones could offer a cost-effective solution as they enable self-monitoring and remote communication. ObjectiveThis study will evaluate a low-cost smartphone-based intervention that targets individuals who are not ready to lose weight without the involvement of health professionals. MethodsThe intervention will run for 6 months, and its efficacy will be assessed in an unblinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with 108 participants per group. All direct interventions for participants in this study will be carried out by staff without medical qualifications. The intervention group will receive weighing scales and be encouraged to record their weight with a smartphone app. Health education will be provided via weekly group messages and monthly phone calls. The evaluation will be conducted face-to-face. The primary outcome will be the weight change, and the secondary outcome will be differences in body fat percentage, abdominal circumference, and stage of behavioral change in weight loss behaviors from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months. ResultsIn accordance with this protocol, the recruitment of participants started on August 26, 2024. A total of 216 participants were allocated, with 108 in the intervention group and 108 in the control group. The baseline survey began on November 15, 2024, and is currently ongoing as of the end of November 2024. ConclusionsThis study will be the first in sub-Saharan African countries to implement a smartphone app-based weight loss program in sub-Saharan Africa that does not require direct intervention by health care professionals but specifically targets communities. Furthermore, if the effectiveness of this program is confirmed, it has the potential to serve as a low-cost sustainable weight loss model at the policy level. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/69264https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e69264 |
| spellingShingle | Rui Usui Maki Aomori Shogo Kanamori Setsuko Watabe Bi Tra Jamal Sehi Kei Kawano Yuka Kanoya Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Weight Loss Intervention with Telephone Support for Merchant Women With Obesity in Côte d'Ivoire: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Weight Loss Intervention with Telephone Support for Merchant Women With Obesity in Côte d'Ivoire: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Weight Loss Intervention with Telephone Support for Merchant Women With Obesity in Côte d'Ivoire: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Weight Loss Intervention with Telephone Support for Merchant Women With Obesity in Côte d'Ivoire: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Weight Loss Intervention with Telephone Support for Merchant Women With Obesity in Côte d'Ivoire: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Evaluation of a Smartphone-Based Weight Loss Intervention with Telephone Support for Merchant Women With Obesity in Côte d'Ivoire: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | evaluation of a smartphone based weight loss intervention with telephone support for merchant women with obesity in cote d ivoire protocol for a randomized controlled trial |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e69264 |
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