Efficacy of telephone-based health counseling with wearable device-Smartphone monitoring in older adults with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, highlighting the importance of lifestyle modification, particularly physical activity. Although wearable-based self-monitoring may promote behavioral change, it remains unclear whether structured telephone counseling provides additional benefits beyond wearable monitoring. This study evaluated the additive effects of telephone-based counseling beyond wearable self-monitoring on physical activity and metabolic outcomes in older adults with metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

Older adults with metabolic syndrome were randomized into an intervention group (n = 28) or control group (n = 28) using block allocation. All participants wore a wrist-wearable device for 12 weeks. The intervention group received biweekly telephone counseling with feedback based on physical activity data, while the control group wore the device without counseling.

RESULTS

At 12 weeks, significant group-by-time interactions were observed for daily step counts (p = 0.025), caloric expenditure (p = 0.029), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p = 0.020), indicating greater improvements in the intervention group compared with the control group. A significant group-by-time interaction was also observed for triglyceride levels (p = 0.024), indicating a greater reduction in the intervention group.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, structured telephone counseling may provide incremental benefits beyond wearable self-monitoring in enhancing physical activity, with modest short-term metabolic effects observed over 12 weeks in older adults with metabolic syndrome.