Body Composition Assessment and Smart-phone Based Counselling on Healthy Eating and Weight Management

The Effectiveness on Healthy Eating and Weight Management by Body Composition Assessment and Smart-phone Based Counselling Among Middle-aged Hong Kong Chinese: A 6-month Randomized Controlled Trial

This study proposed an integrated multi-disciplinary approach including a professional and convenient body composition measurement and an immediate counselling after the measurement, followed by 6-month smart-phone based individualized counselling. We believe that this approach will promote healthy eating behaviors and weight management among middle-aged Chinese in Hong Kong.

This is a two-arm, individual level, 6-month randomized controlled trial. The intervention group will receive convenient body composition measurement and 6-month smart-phone based individualized counselling. No specific intervention will be given to the control group except the common anthropometric and body composition measurement. A pretest-posttest evaluation and between-group comparison will be used to test whether the impact/success of the project has been achieved.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to understand Cantonese and read Chinese;
• Self-reported vegetable and fruit consumption is less than 5 servings per day (one serving means 125 mL (½ cup) fresh, frozen or canned fruits or vegetables; or 250 mL (1 cup) raw leafy veggies or salad; or 125 mL (½ cup) 100% juice; or 1 fruit;
• Reachable by smart-phone and familiar with the use of smart-phone;
• Would not move from the local area during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Self-reported history of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, neurological disorder, musculo-skeletal disorder, osteoarthritis, and eating disorder;
• Receiving medically prescribed diet or physical activity intervention;
• For women, currently pregnant;
• Have been taking any medications or long-term supplement such as herbs;
• Cannot provide written informed consent.