TY  - JOUR
AU  - Lee, Myeonggyun
AU  - Shin, Jaeyong
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/05/02
TI  - Change in Waist Circumference With Continuous Use of a Smart Belt: An Observational Study
JO  - JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
SP  - e10737
VL  - 7
IS  - 5
KW  - smart health care
KW  - wearable device
KW  - obesity
KW  - internet of things
KW  - mHealth
KW  - digital health care
KW  - lifestyle modification
KW  - metabolic syndrome
AB  - Background: Health insurers and policymakers are trying to prevent and reduce cardiovascular diseases due to obesity. A smart belt that monitors activity and waist circumference is a new concept for conquering obesity and may be a promising new strategy for health insurers and policymakers. Objective: This preliminary study evaluated whether the use of a smart belt was associated with a decrease in waist circumference. Methods: In the manufacturer’s database, there were data on a total of 427 men at baseline. A total of 223, 81, and 27 users kept using the smart belt for 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. Paired t tests and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to identify the change in waist circumference at specified time intervals (at 4, 8, and 12 weeks). In addition, a linear mixed model was used to incorporate all users’ waist circumference data at each time point. Preexisting data on waist circumference and self-reported demographics were obtained from the manufacturer of the smart belt (WELT Corporation, South Korea). Results: Compared with baseline, the waist circumference (cm) decreased significantly at all time points: –0.270 for week 4, –0.761 for week 8, and –1.972 for week 12 (all P<.01). Although each paired t test had a different sample size because of loss to follow-up, the differences between baseline and each subsequent week increased. Equal continuous reduction in waist circumference was observed with the ANOVA and mixed model analysis (beta=–0.158 every week). Conclusions: The smart belt is a newly developed, wearable device that measures real-time steps, sedentary time, and waist circumference. In this study, we showed that wearing the smart belt was associated with reducing waist circumference over 12 weeks. This direct-to-consumer smart health device may contribute toward reducing the risk of obesity and related conditions and controlling increasing health costs for health insurers. 
SN  - 2291-5222
UR  - http://mhealth.jmir.org/2019/5/e10737/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/10737
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31045500
DO  - 10.2196/10737
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/10737
ER  -