Reducing adolescent obesity with a mobile fitness application: Study results of youth age 15 to 17

We present the results of the second phase of a multiphase study into the feasibility of combating growing adolescent obesity rates with a fitness game deployed on mobile devices. The fitness application includes tracking software to measure and count exercises performed and socialization features to compete and collaborate with friends. In the first phase of our study we tested producing positive changes in test subjects' attitudes towards fitness as a precursor to producing sustained fitness interest. This second phase study tests the application on its efficacy for improving physical fitness levels in adolescents. This study included 19 subjects aged 15 to 17 using the fitness application over a six week period. Students were categorized into underweight, healthy, and overweight/obese categories according to the United States' Centres for Disease Control's 2000 published charts on body-mass index (BMI) percentile charts. Test results showed an average decrease in BMI of 0.51 for overweight/obese subjects, while healthy subjects maintained their healthy BMI levels with an average BMI change of 0.02. Only one subject was classified as underweight and had a BMI increase of 0.32.