ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2019
The Twazon Arabic Weight Loss App: App-Based Intervention for Saudi Women With Obesity.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The Use of Mobile Technologies to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce Sedentary Behaviors in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Pooled it
- Sociodemographic Characteristics and Dietary Habits Associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms in Adults Living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Large Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Digital-based physical activity interventions implemented across the League of Arab States: a scoping review.Oxford open digital health · 2025Review
- Exploring the association between nutrition knowledge and generalized anxiety disorder among young adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: implications for Saudi Vision 2030.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
- An Investigation of the Feasibility and Acceptability of Using a Commercial DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) App in People With High Blood Pressure: Mixed Methods Study.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- The role of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) in reshaping the body weight for better healthcare: A cross-sectional study.Pakistan journal of medical sciences · 2024Article
- A Tailored Gender-Sensitive mHealth Weight Loss Intervention (I-GENDO): Development and Process Evaluation.JMIR formative research · 2022Article
- What Works Best to Engage Participants in Mobile App Interventions and e-Health: A Scoping Review.Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association · 2022Article
- A qualitative examination of the factors affecting the adoption of injury focused wearable technologies in recreational runners.PloS one · 2022Article
- Effectiveness of Integrated Technology Apps for Supporting Healthy Food Purchasing and Consumption: A Systematic Review.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Attitudes and Expectations of Health Care Professionals Toward App-Based Therapy in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Hip or Knee: Questionnaire Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBy 2022, it is estimated that the rate of female obesity (78%) in Saudi Arabia will almost double that of males (41%). Despite being mainly attributed to poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and a lack of health awareness, behavioral modification interventions are relatively new to the population; bariatric surgery continues to be the treatment of choice for comorbidities. However, neither pre nor postoperative diet and exercise are promoted. Evidence-informed mobile health (mHealth) weight loss apps and interventions may be an effective tool for delivering a culturally relevant intervention.
objectiveThis study aimed to determine the feasibility of a weight loss intervention that tests the effectiveness of Twazon, an originally designed Arabic weight-loss app that promotes lifestyle modification specific to Arab populations.
methodsA pre-post single-arm pilot study was carried out among a sample of 240 overweight volunteer Saudi women residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia who used the Twazon app over a 4-month period. Anthropometric, diet, and physical activity measures were assessed 3 times: baseline, 2-months and 4-months; frequency of app use and system usability were evaluated during the 2 latter data collection periods. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to identify changes over time.
resultsA total of 40 participants completed the 4-month intervention with an attrition rate of 83%. An evaluation of the frequency of app use fostered 2 groups: engaged users (65%) and unengaged users (35%). At 4 months, the engaged users experienced more successful outcomes; body weight was lowered on average by 1.3 (SD 0.6) kg (P=.18), waist circumference (WC) was reduced by 4.9 (SD 1.1) cm (P<.001), and daily energy consumption was decreased by >600 calories (P=.002). Unengaged users experienced minor changes in body weight, WC, and reduced energy intake.
conclusionsThe findings have demonstrated that engagement with the Twazon app renders positive changes in body weight, WC, and energy intake. mHealth weight loss apps and interventions have the potential to be effective in promoting weight loss and healthy lifestyle modification in Saudi Arabia and similar populations.
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