Education in changing one's lifestyle to cope with excess weight with the use of information technologies

Overweight and obesity are a global public health problem with a multifactorial etiology and a risk factor for numerous diseases. The objective was to evaluate the application of light and light-hard health technologies as an educational strategy for promoting lifestyle changes in overweight or obese patients. This was a longitudinal study (18 weeks), prospective, experimental, and quantitative (cross-over controlled clinical trial), with 42 participants followed in primary care, paired into two treatment groups: control and intervention (operational group meetings and WhatsApp). Both continued with their usual consultations. Halfway through the study, the groups had their treatments switched and remained in that group for the same period. There was greater weight loss, reduction in waist circumference, improvement in dietary habits, and physical activity in both groups, especially in the intervention group. The strategies were well evaluated by the participants. There is a need for managerial support and healthcare team for results that depend on the duration of the process, but the educational and technological intervention proved to be feasible in addressing excess weight in primary care.