NEW DELHI: The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, is developing a smartphone-based application that aims to help people lead a healthier lifestyle by focusing on weight management and handling anxiety and stress.
Clinical trials for the Zeigen app are likely to start in February to check its effectiveness, after which it will be available for iOS and Android users.
According to doctors, the weight management industry is currently serviced by fitness centres, gymnasiums, nutritionists, health apps and weight-loss pills. However, all of them tend to follow a ‘one size fits all’ solution and none incorporates psychological aspects like low self-esteem, stress, anxiety and depression, which are key factors driving a person’s behaviour.
Dr YPS Balhara, professor, National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre and department of psychiatry, and Dr Rohit Verma, additional professor in department of psychiatry under the aegis of Centre for Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship at AIIMS, are co-developing a clinical app with a team of young entrepreneurs and tech specialists from Zeigen Health to drive long-term behavioural change in managing weight and mental health issues.
According to Dr Balhara, many smartphone-based apps claim to help with such issues, but their effectiveness has not been tested systematically. “Once we finalise our app, we plan to conduct a randomised controlled trial, the best kind of evidence one can generate in medical sciences to ensure that this really works. To our knowledge, nothing like this has been medically validated in India,” he said.The app has sections and modules targeting different areas, he added. After getting basic information from the user, questionnaires on the app would make an evaluation. Based on this, recommendations would be made to the person on how best to handle stress.
Dr Balhara said once the app is approved after clinical trials are held, it will be used as a clinically proven medical device, which could be a gamechanger in long-term management of obesity, apart from addressing mental health issues.
“Zeigen app incorporates third-generation cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques and process-based therapy (PBT) framework which provides personalised treatment for obesity management and mental health issues,” said Dr Verma.
Most of the modules are over and they are working on the final stage now, he added. “These modules will be integrated into various online platforms for easy access by other healthcare providers. It is a low-cost, ‘Made in India’ solution which has potential to be used worldwide,” said Dr Balhara.
“We are not targeting only the clinical population. The app can help anyone facing anxiety and stress. We always talk about anxiety before exams. It doesn’t mean those students have medical illness or psychiatric disorder, but they can also seek support on this app. In case they need a referral, they will be guided to an expert through this application,” he said.
Many free apps offer medical advice. But an AIIMS app is expected to be authoritative and credible. This is a good initiative. Hopefully, itwill be ready to download for free in the near future.TimesView
