Promoting the Use of Free Smartphone App (MyFitnessPal) for Weight Loss by Primary Care Provider in Overweight Patients: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Patients will be given a survey determining the patient's eligibility to be part of the study. Based on the results patients will be consented and then randomized into two arms. The intervention group will download MyFitnessPal onto the patient's smartphone and given guidance on how to use the application in order to help with weight loss. The control group will receive traditional weight loss counseling from the physician. Both groups will have measurement recorded for weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference at the patient's initial visit. All patients will be asked to return to the clinic at no cost to the patient to have measurements recorded for the patient's weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the patient's initial visit. At the conclusion of the study, patients who were in the intervention group will be asked to take a final survey regarding the patient's use of the MyFitnessPal application.