Methods
personality traits, overweight, weight loss
OBESE
In a 12-week, statistician-blinded, randomized parallel controlled trial, 78 overweight and obese men aged 40-69 years were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the usual support plus KENPO-app group (intervention group) or the active control group. KENPO-app (release April 10, 2019; OMRON Healthcare Co., Ltd.) was developed by the study team and focus groups and uses behavior change techniques (ie, self-monitoring and goal-setting theory). This app was developed for SHG based on the four specific health checkups and guidance system in Japan: (1) focusing primarily on achieving the target (weight loss of ≥2 kg); (2) assessing healthy eating, exercise habits, smoking habits, relaxation, and self-weighing; (3) providing information on the results of specific health checkups; and (4) starting an intervention period of 6 months with the interim assessment at 3 months. The initial assessment explored the following: personality traits (4 types), health checkup data concerns (10 items), symptom concerns (10 items), and the aim of the intervention (weight loss, improving fitness, symptoms, laboratory data). Chatbot-supported health information on health and health behavior was selected from 392 quizzes based on app data and was provided to participants. The KENPO-app had chatbot-supported feedback and information provision combined with a self-monitoring tool (weight, steps, and blood pressure). Data on active exercise, healthy eating, and healthy lifestyle habits were obtained using a web-based self-administered questionnaire at baseline and 12 weeks.