Conclusion These studies provide preliminary evidence suggesting that EAMS can increase physical activity and decrease weight significantly , but their efficacy compared to other interventions has not yet been demonstrated .
Background Obesity is a growing global health concern that may lead to cardiovascular disease , type II diabetes , and cancer .
Several systematic review s have shown that technology is successful in combating obesity through increased physical activity , but there is no known review on interventions that use an electronic activity monitor system ( EAMS ) .
EAMSs are defined as a wearable device that objective ly measures lifestyle physical activity and can provide feedback , beyond the display of basic activity count information , via the monitor display or through a partnering application to elicit continual self-monitoring of activity behavior .
These devices improve upon st and ard pedometers because they have the ability to provide visual feedback on activity progression , verbal encouragement , and social comparison .
This systematic review aim ed to synthesize the efficacy and feasibility results of EAMSs within published physical activity interventions .
A randomized trial comparing human e-mail counseling, computer-automated tailored counseling, and no counseling in an Internet weight loss program.
BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that e-mail counseling improves weight loss achieved in self-directed Internet programs . Computer-tailored feedback offers a population -based alternative to human e-mail counseling . METHODS One hundred ninety-two adults , aged 49.2 + /- 9.8 years , having a body mass index ( calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared ) of 32.7 + /- 3.5 , were r and omized to 1 of 3 Internet treatment groups : No counseling , computer-automated feedback , or human e-mail counseling .  All participants received 1 weight loss group session , coupons for meal replacements , and access to an interactive Web site . The human e-mail counseling and computer-automated feedback groups also had access to an electronic diary and message board . The human e-mail counseling group received weekly e-mail feedback from a counselor , and the computer-automated feedback group received automated , tailored messages . RESULTS Retention was 82 % at 3 months and 80 % at 6 months for all 3 groups . At 3 months , completers in both the computer-automated feedback ( -5.3 + /- 4.2 kg ) and human e-mail counseling ( -6.1 + /- 3.9 kg ) groups had significantly greater weight losses compared with the no counseling group ( -2.8 + /- 3.5 kg ) and these groups did not differ from each other . At 6 months , weight losses were significantly greater in the human e-mail counseling group ( -7.3 + /- 6.2 kg ) than in the computer-automated feedback ( -4.9 + /- 5.9 kg ) or no counseling ( -2.6 + /- 5.7 kg ) groups . Intent-to-treat analyses using single or multiple imputation techniques showed the same pattern of significance . CONCLUSIONS Providing automated computer-tailored feedback in an Internet weight loss program was as effective as human e-mail counseling at 3 months . Further research is needed to improve the efficacy of automated computer-tailored feedback as a population -based weight loss approach
Conclusion These studies provide preliminary evidence suggesting that EAMS can increase physical activity and decrease weight significantly , but their efficacy compared to other interventions has not yet been demonstrated .
Background Obesity is a growing global health concern that may lead to cardiovascular disease , type II diabetes , and cancer .
Several systematic review s have shown that technology is successful in combating obesity through increased physical activity , but there is no known review on interventions that use an electronic activity monitor system ( EAMS ) .
EAMSs are defined as a wearable device that objective ly measures lifestyle physical activity and can provide feedback , beyond the display of basic activity count information , via the monitor display or through a partnering application to elicit continual self-monitoring of activity behavior .
These devices improve upon st and ard pedometers because they have the ability to provide visual feedback on activity progression , verbal encouragement , and social comparison .
This systematic review aim ed to synthesize the efficacy and feasibility results of EAMSs within published physical activity interventions .