SWITCH App for Obesity
(SWITCH Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial tests a 12-week program using the SWITCH app to help people make healthier food choices and lose weight. The app provides daily dietary tracking, visual feedback, and weekly lessons to support healthy eating habits. Participants will either focus on reducing certain nutrients or increasing recommended ones, based on common dietary needs. This trial suits adults who own a smartphone, have struggled with weight issues, and are ready to change their eating habits. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to innovative research in dietary health and weight management.
Do I need to stop my current medications for the SWITCH App for Obesity trial?
The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using medications that affect blood glucose, you may not be eligible to participate.
What prior data suggests that the SWITCH app is safe for promoting healthy dietary changes?
Research has shown that health apps like the SWITCH app can safely and effectively help people change their eating habits. Studies on similar apps indicate they can improve health without causing serious side effects. Typically, these apps involve tracking meals and providing feedback to encourage healthier choices.
Reports from other nutrition apps suggest they are well-received, with most users not experiencing negative effects. Instead, users often find them helpful for making better food choices. This suggests the SWITCH app should be safe for participants in the trial.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the SWITCH app for obesity because it leverages personalized digital nutrition goals to help users improve their dietary habits. Unlike traditional methods that might rely on general advice or medications, this app sets specific, personalized daily intake goals based on age, weight, sex, and dietary guidelines. What makes it particularly unique is its dual approach: one arm focuses on reducing overconsumed nutrients, while the other emphasizes increasing underconsumed nutrients. This tailored, app-based intervention could offer a more engaging and adaptable solution compared to standard dietary programs, potentially leading to better long-term adherence and outcomes.
What evidence suggests that the SWITCH app is effective for weight loss?
Research has shown that mobile apps can help people lose weight and eat healthier. One study found that 42.20% of people who actively used an app lost at least 5% of their body weight after a year. Another study demonstrated that smartphone apps had a small but significant impact on weight loss and reducing BMI (Body Mass Index) over 4 to 6 months. In this trial, participants will use the SWITCH app, with one group focusing on tracking healthy nutrients. These findings suggest that using the SWITCH app to track healthy nutrients might effectively help people develop better eating habits and lose weight.678910
Who Is on the Research Team?
Brie Turner-McGrievy, PhD, MS, RD
Principal Investigator
University of South Carolina
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
The SWITCH Diets Study is for adults with overweight or obesity who are looking to adopt a healthier diet and lose weight. Participants should be interested in using an app to track their daily food intake and learn about healthy eating through weekly modules.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Orientation and Baseline Assessment
Participants attend a study orientation, complete all baseline measures, and are randomized into groups
Treatment
Participants engage in a 12-week remotely delivered program with weekly learning modules and daily dietary tracking via the SWITCH app
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in Healthy Eating Index and body weight after the intervention
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- SWITCH app
Trial Overview
This study tests the effectiveness of the SWITCH app, which includes self-regulation features for dietary tracking and visual feedback. It also provides learning modules aimed at supporting healthy eating habits over a 12-week period.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Participants allocated to this group will be given goals to reach a recommended daily intake of nutrients in which US adults tend to not consume enough. Recommended amounts will be based off of age and sex, in line with the US Dietary Guidelines.
Participants in this group will be given goals to reduce intake of nutrients in which US adults tend to consume too much. Personalized daily intake goals for nutrients will be based on age, weight, sex, and the US Dietary Guidelines.
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of South Carolina
Lead Sponsor
Citations
Evaluating the Implementation and Effectiveness of ...
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that prior experience with SWITCH–MS may not be a prominent factor for implementation and effectiveness, ...
Effect of a mobile phone application for dietary self ...
In our study, the mobile phone application did not significantly improve adherence or ZBMI outcomes. However, self-monitoring remains a well- ...
The effectiveness of mobile app usage in facilitating weight ...
This study found that 42.20% (95%CI: 42.95, 45.44) of active users lost ≥5% of their body weight at 52 weeks follow‐up. While the current study did not ...
The Role of Mobile Apps in Obesity Management
Conclusions: Smartphone apps demonstrate a modest but statistically significant effect on weight loss and BMI reduction over a 4- to 6-month ...
Mobile health apps: An assessment of needs, perceptions ...
The aim of this study was to explore the use of mobile health applications as dietary self-monitoring tools, and their possible role in improving food choices.
SWITCH Diets Study: Self-monitoring With Internet ...
Diet tracking. Participants in both groups will be asked to track all meals, snacks, and beverages via the SWITCH app and complete a weekly learning module.
Behavior Change Effectiveness Using Nutrition Apps in ...
The results suggest that mHealth apps involving nutrition can significantly improve health outcomes in people with chronic diseases.
FoodSwitch App
FoodSwitch app scans packaged food barcodes, providing nutrition info and suggesting healthier alternatives using a Health Star Rating or traffic-light icons.
FoodSwitch App - Find healthier alternatives to switch to
FoodSwitch scans products and recommends healthier alternatives to switch. Scan a barcode to get its nutrition information and healthier alternatives.
New app offers consumers healthier options - Northwestern Now
The app provides a simple Health Star Rating that scores each food between 0.5 stars (unhealthy) to 5 stars (healthiest). The scoring is based ...
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