There was a twofold aim to a study by Bauer and colleagues: (1) the authors illustrated the general potential of the short message service (SMS) for symptom and behavior monitoring and the provision of tailored feedback; and (2) an SMS-based maintenance treatment (SMSMT) was introduced to enhance 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; they 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 analyzed. 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, however.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The authors concluded that 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.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOUY AS A HEALTH CARE CONSUMER: SMSMT is a promising intervention that may extend the reach of treatment centers for childhood overweight at reasonable cost and effort. However, as suggested by the authors, the approach requires further testing, particularly in a randomized controlled trial.

S Bauer et al. Enhancement of care through self-monitoring and tailored feedback via text messaging and their use in the treatment of childhood overweight. Patient Education & Counseling. April 23, 2010.