mHealth Intervention to Improve Cardiometabolic Health in Rural Hispanic Adults: A Pilot Study.

Background: Hispanic/Latino adults have high rates of hypertension, obesity, and type II diabetes. Mobile health technologies (mHealth) are effective in supporting self-management of lifestyle behaviors; however, the effectiveness in rural Hispanic/Latino adults is unclear.

Objective: A pilot 12-week self-management mHealth intervention in rural Hispanic/Latino adults with cardiometabolic risk was conducted.

Methods: A randomized, 2-group (intervention and enhanced usual care) design was used to test the use of the MyFitnessPal app, a smart scale, and text messages to support daily self-monitoring of weight, food intake, and steps.

Results: Seventy participants enrolled. The intervention group had greater improvement in body mass index ( P = .052) and waist circumference ( P = .043) at 12 weeks and a trend toward greater fitness at 12 and 24 weeks. Both groups improved hemoglobin A 1c level at 12 and 24 weeks.

Conclusions: mHealth using MyFitnessPal, smart scale, and text messages may be effective for improving aspects of cardiometabolic health in rural Hispanic/Latino adults.