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Abstract
This paper first illustrates the general potential of the short message service (SMS)
for symptom and behavior monitoring and the provision of tailored feedback. Second,
an SMS-based maintenance treatment (SMSMT) is introduced aimed at enhancing the treatment
of childhood overweight.
After a 12-week cognitive behavioral group treatment (CBGT), 40 children were assigned
to the SMSMT for a period of 36 weeks. Children were asked to send weekly self-monitoring
data on eating behavior, exercise behavior, and emotions and received tailored feedback.
The adherence to SMSMT and changes in Body Mass Index Standard Deviation Scores (BMI-SDS)
during the first and second treatment phase were analysed.
Children (mean age=10.05, SD=1.28) submitted 67% of the weekly SMS that they were
expected to send in. During CBGT a significant reduction by 0.20 BMI-SDS was observed.
The reduction by 0.07 BMI-SDS during the SMSMT did not reach statistical significance.
The results support the feasibility of SMSMT in the treatment of childhood overweight.
The efficacy of the intervention needs to be demonstrated in an RCT.
SMSMT is a promising intervention that may extend the reach of treatment centers for
childhood overweight at reasonable cost and effort.
Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.