Other Titles
Effects of an App-Based Walking Program on Weight Management in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease [Poster Title]
Abstract
Background: The global rise in obesity, driven by high-calorie diets and sedentary lifestyles, has become a significant public health issue. Simultaneously, the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing. Obesity in IBD patients exacerbates symptoms, interferes with treatment and leads to additional complications. As a result, managing weight loss and preventing obesity are crucial for improving outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a mobile app-based walking program for obese IBD patients at a clinical IBD center. The primary outcomes measured were body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and skeletal muscle mass.
Methods: This study was designed as a randomized clinical trial, with the intervention and data collection taking place from June to August 2024. A total of 54 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received educational materials, including videos, and was instructed to walk a minimum of 7,000 steps on at least five days per week for 10 weeks using the mobile app. The control group was instructed to use the app to track step counts but did not receive any educational materials or videos. To assess changes within each group, differences in outcome variables before and after the intervention were analyzed using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Between-group differences were assessed using independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests in IBM SPSS version 25.
Results: A total of 49 participants completed the study (intervention group: n = 24, control group: n = 25). During the 10-week intervention period, the intervention group recorded a statistically significantly higher average daily step count compared to the control group’s (Z = 2.44, p = .015). The intervention group also showed a significant reduction in BMI (Z = 3.79, p < .001) and a decrease in total body fat (t = 3.50, p = .002). However, there was no significant increase in skeletal muscle mass.
Conclusions: This study is the first in Korea to implement and evaluate an intervention for weight management in IBD patients. Our findings support the effectiveness of moderate-intensity walking exercise as a beneficial adjunct therapy for obese IBD patients. Based on these results, we recommend incorporating mobile application-based exercise programs into future research for various chronic disease populations and promoting their use as adjunct therapies in IBD management.
Notes
References:
[1] Singh, S., et al., Obesity in IBD: epidemiology, pathogenesis, disease course and treatment outcomes. Nature reviews Gastroenterology & hepatology, 2017. 14(2): p. 110-121.
[2] Szilagyi, A., Relationship (s) between obesity and inflammatory bowel diseases: possible intertwined pathogenic mechanisms. Clinical Journal of Gastroenterology, 2020. 13(2): p. 139-152.
[3] Je, Y., et al., Association of waist circumference with the risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a nationwide cohort study of 10 million individuals in Korea. Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, 2023. 17(5): p. 681-692.
[4] Kim, J.H., C.-M. Oh, and J.H. Yoo, Obesity and novel management of inflammatory bowel disease. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2023. 29(12): p. 1779.
[5] Johnson, A.M. and E.V. Loftus Jr, Obesity in inflammatory bowel disease: A review of its role in the pathogenesis, natural history, and treatment of IBD. Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology, 2021. 27(4): p. 183-190.
[6] Bassi, M. and S. Singh, Impact of obesity on response to biologic therapies in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. BioDrugs, 2022. 36(2): p. 197-203.
[7] Davis, S.P., et al., An integrative review of physical activity in adults with inflammatory bowel disease. Intestinal research, 2022. 20(1): p. 43-52.
[8] Fagan, G., H. Osborne, and M. Schultz, Physical activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional study. Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases, 2021. 6(2): p. 61-69.
[9] Raman, M., et al., Physical activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a narrative review. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 2022. 28(7): p. 1100-1111.
[10] Mc Gettigan, N., et al., A systematic review of the effect of structured exercise on inflammation and body composition in inflammatory bowel disease. International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 2023. 38(1): p. 143.
Sigma Membership
Lambda Alpha at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Implementation Science, Long-term Care, Primary Care, Obesity, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, IBD, Exercise, Korea
Recommended Citation
Lee, Youngjin; Park, Da-In; Kang, Saemi; and Lee, Da Bit, "Effects of an App-Based Walking Program on Weight Management in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 145.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/145
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Funder(s)
Bumsuk Academic Research Fund
Effects of an App-Based Walking Program on Weight Management in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients
Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: The global rise in obesity, driven by high-calorie diets and sedentary lifestyles, has become a significant public health issue. Simultaneously, the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing. Obesity in IBD patients exacerbates symptoms, interferes with treatment and leads to additional complications. As a result, managing weight loss and preventing obesity are crucial for improving outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a mobile app-based walking program for obese IBD patients at a clinical IBD center. The primary outcomes measured were body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and skeletal muscle mass.
Methods: This study was designed as a randomized clinical trial, with the intervention and data collection taking place from June to August 2024. A total of 54 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received educational materials, including videos, and was instructed to walk a minimum of 7,000 steps on at least five days per week for 10 weeks using the mobile app. The control group was instructed to use the app to track step counts but did not receive any educational materials or videos. To assess changes within each group, differences in outcome variables before and after the intervention were analyzed using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Between-group differences were assessed using independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests in IBM SPSS version 25.
Results: A total of 49 participants completed the study (intervention group: n = 24, control group: n = 25). During the 10-week intervention period, the intervention group recorded a statistically significantly higher average daily step count compared to the control group’s (Z = 2.44, p = .015). The intervention group also showed a significant reduction in BMI (Z = 3.79, p < .001) and a decrease in total body fat (t = 3.50, p = .002). However, there was no significant increase in skeletal muscle mass.
Conclusions: This study is the first in Korea to implement and evaluate an intervention for weight management in IBD patients. Our findings support the effectiveness of moderate-intensity walking exercise as a beneficial adjunct therapy for obese IBD patients. Based on these results, we recommend incorporating mobile application-based exercise programs into future research for various chronic disease populations and promoting their use as adjunct therapies in IBD management.
Description
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 10-week walking exercise program, facilitated by a mobile app, for managing obesity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The intervention group, which received educational materials and was instructed to walk at least 7,000 steps on five days per week, showed significant reductions in BMI and body fat percentage compared to the control group. The program could be a useful tool for weight management in clinical settings.