Digital Health Technologies to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity and Reduce Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Background: Digital health technologies can promote healthy aging, diagnosis, treatment, self-care, and prevention to reduce inequities. However, limited data exist on the feasibility and efficacy of these technologies for healthy lifestyle behaviors and clinical outcomes for older adults at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of the study protocol for factors impacting process, resources, and safety and compared changes in eating patterns, physical activity, and clinical outcomes in participants randomized to Get FIT vs Get FIT+ at baseline and 12 weeks.

Methods: Older adults (65.6 ± 5.8 years, 61% women, 61% married, 50% Asians, 6% Whites, 33% Hispanics, 11% Blacks) were randomized to Get FIT (n = 24) or Get Fit+ (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Get FIT included 1 in-person counseling session, a participant handbook, an activity tracker, and access to a nutrition app. Get Fit+ added weekly personalized motivational text messages.

Results: All feasibility measures were excellent, with 100% consent and retention at 12 weeks. Both groups gradually increased moderate to vigorous exercise and lowered calorie intake. The Get Fit+ and Get Fit participants reported 6% and 1% weight loss, respectively. Blood pressure, lipid profiles, and HgbAa1C improved for all participants. However, improvements in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were more significant in the Get FIT+ group.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Get Fit+ can promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in older adults while lowering cardiovascular disease risk factors. A large Randomized Control Trial is needed to determine the efficacy of this intervention's personalized text-messaging feature in this population.