Primary Outcome Measures:
- The primary outcome will be the effect of the mDIET system in comparison to a control group on BMI among overweight men and women. [ Time Frame: 9/5/06 - 7/31/08 ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- to assess compliance with food monitoring activities (e.g, type of food, amount) via the cell phone. Compliance will be measured as a percentage of monitoring logs completed and submitted via phone [ Time Frame: 9/5/06 - 7/31/08 ]
- to assess satisfaction with mDIET. Satisfaction will be measured by subjective ratings of intervention components and ease of use, and objective measures of frequency of use. [ Time Frame: 9/5/06-7/31/08 ]
This research will develop a technologically advanced system for monitoring and intervening on diet behaviors (e.g., food intake, weight). Interventions aimed at dietary change are missing a comparable, portable tool. Mobile technologies can help fill this gap by providing portable connectivity to expert systems that create specific tailored diet goals based on participant profiles. The expert system can 'push' intervention messages throughout the day during critical point-of-decision moments to aid in decision making among users. The portable device can 'pull' information through prompts and easy-to-use recording. This ecological momentary assessment + ecological momentary intervention format may further encourage healthy behaviors by prompting at critical decision points to improve dietary behaviors.