Changes in eating behavior in people with obesity after the use of a mobile health behavior change support system: an 18-month randomized controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
The 6-month use of mHBCSS improved eating behavior, and changes in eating behavior were associated with weight loss.
Study context
- Population
- Volunteers with obesity aged 18–65 years, BMI 30–40 kg/m²
- Participants
- 200 volunteers
- Comparison
- Immediate access to mobile health behavior change support system (mHBCSS) vs 6-month waiting period before mHBCSS
- Primary endpoint
- Changes in cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating and binge eating (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18, Binge Eating Scale)
Methodological detailswaiting-list control, 18-month follow-up
- Waiting-list control
- 18-month follow-up
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Change in eating behavior in Group 1 · 6 months
Cognitive restraint increased in Group 1
8.4 scores
95% CI 4.1–12.8p < 0.001
Uncontrolled eating decreased in Group 1 (−11.9 to −4.4; p < 0.001)
−8.2
Emotional eating decreased in Group 1 (−14.4 to −4.5; p < 0.001)
−9.4
Binge eating decreased in Group 1 (−4.9 to −1.9; p < 0.001)
−3.4
Further findings
Association of eating behavior changes with weight loss in Group 1 · 6 months
- Weight loss associated with increase in cognitive restraint
- P = 0.015
- Weight loss associated with decreases in uncontrolled eating, emotional eating and binge eating
- all p < 0.001
Eating behavior in Group 2 after 6 months of mHBCSS use, and maintenance · to 18 months
- Group 2 demonstrated the same changes in eating behavior after using the mHBCSS for 6 months
- Significant eating behavior changes were maintained to the end of follow-up in both groups
Retention rate · 6, 12 and 18 months
- Retention at 6 months
- 98.5%
- Retention at 12 months
- 89.0%
- Retention at 18 months
- 79.0%
Original publication
Changes in eating behavior in people with obesity after the use of a mobile health behavior change support system: an 18-month randomized controlled trial. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 31 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →