Attitude towards wearable gadgets and mobile health applications for obesity management in GCC: Kuwait case study

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of m-health tech and wearable gadgets on a better lifestyle. The study investigated the impact of obesity phenomena, obesity management, people's knowledge, diet management, and physical exercise. Primary data was gathered by a mixed method which is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Total sample of n=16 semi structural interviews have been conducted from 25 participants. The first section of the interview suggested four main themes i.e., obesity phenomena, dietary habits, obesity management, and time required to lose weight. The second section suggested exposure to health tech, knowledge of health tech, and results. The third section proposed life after using health tech applications, the impact of health tech on their wellbeing, and outlook of life. Data analysis from SPSS suggested people's knowledge and diet management be significant predictors of a better lifestyle. Findings also suggests that people's attitudes partially mediated the relationship between people's knowledge and a better lifestyle. People's attitudes partially mediate the relationship between diet management and a better lifestyle. Lastly, findings suggest that technology partially moderated the relationship between the better lifestyle and obesity phenomenon, obesity management people's knowledge, diet management, and physical exercise. Findings of the study poses significant implications for health care experts, obese Kuwaiti nationals and heath care gadgets manufacturers to integrate key elements to further penetrate GCC market to fight to epidemic of obesity.