Individualized exercise intervention for the overweight and obese population using WeChat and wearable devices: a non-randomized trial

To determine the efficacy of an individualized exercise plan based on WeChat and wearable device monitoring among the overweight and obese population. One hundred thirty patients who were diagnosed as obese or overweight were included and grouped based on voluntary registration between January 2022 and December 2023. The remote WeChat exercise management model with wearable device monitoring was applied to patients in the study group (n = 92) for 3 months. The control group (n = 38) received an exercise prescription at the time of enrollment and a single education session on sports-related knowledge. Then, the patients in the control group were required to undergo self-exercise and -management for 3 months. There were significant improvements in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, body fat, body fat percentage, visceral fat area, and HOMA-IR, as well as total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, and fasting insulin levels in the study group after intervention compared to before intervention. The changes in the control group after intervention were not significantly different than before intervention. After adjustment of the baseline differences based on covariance analysis, the following indicators were shown to have statistically significant better improvement in the study group than those the control group after intervention: decreased weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat, and visceral fat area; lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels; and improved glycated hemoglobin concentration. Performance was superior in the study group compared to the control group). An individualized exercise prescription intervention plan may be conducive to weight loss, fat reduction, lowering blood pressure and blood lipid levels, and improvement in glucose metabolism among the overweight and obese population. The clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR2100046307, registered on 12 May 2021.