• Young-Gyun Seo, Tuire Salonurmi, Terhi Jokelainen, Pasi Karppinen, Anna-Maria Teeriniemi, Junhee Han, Kyung Hee Park, Harri Oinas-Kukkonen, and Markku J Savolainen.
• Department of Family Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
• Ann. Med. 2020 Sep 1; 52 (6): 321-330.

ObjectivesThe aim was to investigate whether lifestyle changes produced by persuasive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) counselling can lower the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS).MethodsA total of 532 participants (20-60 years, body mass index 27-35 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to six arms according to counselling type (no, short-term, or intensive) with or without ICT intervention. In this report the prevalence of MetS and its components were compared between no-ICT group and ICT group. Moreover, the frequency of the web information system usage was analysed for the number of logins, responses to weekly messages, and other record variables.ResultsThe ICT group had significantly lower proportion of MetS (33.7% vs. 45.3%, p = .022) than the no-ICT group at 2-year follow-up. In mixed model, the ICT group had lower prevalence of MetS than no-ICT group (OR 0.50, 95%CI 0.27-0.90) after intervention. The tertile with the highest utilization had 71% lower prevalence of MetS compared with the lowest utilization tertile or the no-ICT group.ConclusionsWeb-based ICT is able to reduce the prevalence of MetS. In addition, higher utilization of the web information system is associated with a greater decrease in the prevalence of MetS. Key messages Our internet health behaviour change support system based on persuasive design and cognitive behaviour therapy markedly reduces metabolic syndrome in overweight/obese subjects. As a stand-alone tool it may save healthcare personnel resources as it is suitable at a low cost for both obese/overweight patients and the public at large.

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