Outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just-in-time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight-related behaviors in young adults
Objective There is limited evidence on the effects of various types of intervention messages on achievement of daily behavioral goals in mobile weight loss programs. Nudge, a 12-week pilot microrandomized trial among young adults, tested whether 7 types of intervention messages based on behavior cha...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251353267 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850083433275981824 |
|---|---|
| author | Carmina G Valle Brooke T Nezami Nisha Gottfredson O’Shea Karen E Hatley Deborah F Tate |
| author_facet | Carmina G Valle Brooke T Nezami Nisha Gottfredson O’Shea Karen E Hatley Deborah F Tate |
| author_sort | Carmina G Valle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective There is limited evidence on the effects of various types of intervention messages on achievement of daily behavioral goals in mobile weight loss programs. Nudge, a 12-week pilot microrandomized trial among young adults, tested whether 7 types of intervention messages based on behavior change techniques (BCTs) increased the likelihood of daily goal achievement. Methods Participants received lessons, tailored feedback, self-monitoring tools, and daily messages, and had daily behavioral goals (weighing, active minutes goal, and red foods limit). Four times/day, participants (N = 52, aged 18–35, body mass index 25–40 kg/m 2 ) were randomized to receive or not receive 1 of 7 types of BCT-based messages. Generalized estimating equations evaluated the effects of receiving a message versus not on daily goal achievement, and of receiving and viewing a message versus not viewing a message. Results Randomization to receive any message (vs. none) did not impact likelihood of meeting daily goals overall but was associated with fewer red foods tracked (odds ratio (OR) = .96; 95% confidence interval (CI): .94–.98). Randomization to receive (vs. not receive) a social comparison message about red foods was associated with fewer red foods tracked (OR = .92; 95% CI: .85–.99); no other message types were associated with daily goal achievement. Receiving and viewing any message (vs. not viewing) increased odds of achieving daily goals for all 3 behaviors: weighing (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.06–3.43), active minutes (OR = 1.63; 95% CI:1.20–2.20), and red foods limit (OR = 2.09; 95% CI:1.46–3.01). Conclusions BCT-based messages may nudge achievement of daily goals when participants view them. Further research should explore how to increase and maintain engagement in mobile behavioral interventions. Trial registration Precision Public Health: Enhancing Connections to Develop Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention Strategies (Nudge); https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03836391 ; ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03836391 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6b548a2762584354a853c7fb73d12253 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6b548a2762584354a853c7fb73d122532025-08-20T02:44:17ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-07-011110.1177/20552076251353267Outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just-in-time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight-related behaviors in young adultsCarmina G Valle0Brooke T Nezami1Nisha Gottfredson O’Shea2Karen E Hatley3Deborah F Tate4 Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USAObjective There is limited evidence on the effects of various types of intervention messages on achievement of daily behavioral goals in mobile weight loss programs. Nudge, a 12-week pilot microrandomized trial among young adults, tested whether 7 types of intervention messages based on behavior change techniques (BCTs) increased the likelihood of daily goal achievement. Methods Participants received lessons, tailored feedback, self-monitoring tools, and daily messages, and had daily behavioral goals (weighing, active minutes goal, and red foods limit). Four times/day, participants (N = 52, aged 18–35, body mass index 25–40 kg/m 2 ) were randomized to receive or not receive 1 of 7 types of BCT-based messages. Generalized estimating equations evaluated the effects of receiving a message versus not on daily goal achievement, and of receiving and viewing a message versus not viewing a message. Results Randomization to receive any message (vs. none) did not impact likelihood of meeting daily goals overall but was associated with fewer red foods tracked (odds ratio (OR) = .96; 95% confidence interval (CI): .94–.98). Randomization to receive (vs. not receive) a social comparison message about red foods was associated with fewer red foods tracked (OR = .92; 95% CI: .85–.99); no other message types were associated with daily goal achievement. Receiving and viewing any message (vs. not viewing) increased odds of achieving daily goals for all 3 behaviors: weighing (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.06–3.43), active minutes (OR = 1.63; 95% CI:1.20–2.20), and red foods limit (OR = 2.09; 95% CI:1.46–3.01). Conclusions BCT-based messages may nudge achievement of daily goals when participants view them. Further research should explore how to increase and maintain engagement in mobile behavioral interventions. Trial registration Precision Public Health: Enhancing Connections to Develop Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention Strategies (Nudge); https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03836391 ; ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03836391https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251353267 |
| spellingShingle | Carmina G Valle Brooke T Nezami Nisha Gottfredson O’Shea Karen E Hatley Deborah F Tate Outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just-in-time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight-related behaviors in young adults Digital Health |
| title | Outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just-in-time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight-related behaviors in young adults |
| title_full | Outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just-in-time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight-related behaviors in young adults |
| title_fullStr | Outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just-in-time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight-related behaviors in young adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just-in-time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight-related behaviors in young adults |
| title_short | Outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just-in-time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight-related behaviors in young adults |
| title_sort | outcomes of a pilot microrandomized trial of just in time adaptive intervention messages nudging weight related behaviors in young adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251353267 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carminagvalle outcomesofapilotmicrorandomizedtrialofjustintimeadaptiveinterventionmessagesnudgingweightrelatedbehaviorsinyoungadults AT brooketnezami outcomesofapilotmicrorandomizedtrialofjustintimeadaptiveinterventionmessagesnudgingweightrelatedbehaviorsinyoungadults AT nishagottfredsonoshea outcomesofapilotmicrorandomizedtrialofjustintimeadaptiveinterventionmessagesnudgingweightrelatedbehaviorsinyoungadults AT karenehatley outcomesofapilotmicrorandomizedtrialofjustintimeadaptiveinterventionmessagesnudgingweightrelatedbehaviorsinyoungadults AT deborahftate outcomesofapilotmicrorandomizedtrialofjustintimeadaptiveinterventionmessagesnudgingweightrelatedbehaviorsinyoungadults |