High scores and level-ups help get diabetics moving

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-05-25 01:00

International

Awarding points and level-ups for daily steps and weight loss could get people with with uncontrolled diabetes and obesity out and active more often. A year-long clinical trial asked 360 adults to wear a score-tracking smart watch, and found by the end of the trial the participants were doing significantly more physical activity. The authors say this game-based approach is promising for lifting activity levels among adults with type 2 diabetes - although it will need to be paired with other approaches, in order to improve weight loss or blood sugar control.

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From:

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Pennsylvania, US

Funder: Funding/Support: This study was supported by a grant (Clinical Scientist Development Award) from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (2016101) to Dr Patel and the University of Pennsylvania Health System through the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit. Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication

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