Acceptability of technology-based physical activity intervention profiles and their motivational factors in obesity care: a latent profile transition analysis

This study aimed to: (a) identify the acceptability profiles for three technology-based physical activity interventions (TbPAI) in obesity treatment (active video games, mobile applications, telehealth), (b) examine the issues of consistency or change in these profiles for the same individual across technologies, and (c) determine whether acceptability profiles are related to motivational factors. Three hundred and twelve women (Mage = 30.7, SD = 7.1 years; MBMI = 34.5, SD = 7.8 kg/m²) using obesity services were recruited for this cross-sectional survey. They completed an online survey including sociodemographic data and measures related to physical activity: level, stage of change, motivation, and general causality orientations. The women read descriptions of the three technologies and rated their acceptability. We used a latent profile transition analysis (LPTA) approach. A 2-class model (high and low acceptability) best described the profiles for each technology. Intra-individual analysis revealed that the profiles exhibited both changes and stability across TbPAI. Women with high scores on impersonal orientation were more likely to be in the high acceptability telehealth profile, whereas those reporting high scores on control orientation were more likely to be in the high acceptability active video games profile. Women with high scores on control orientation and low scores on impersonal orientation were more likely to be in the high acceptability mobile applications profile. Results showed that the causality orientations were factors related to the TbPAI acceptability profiles, suggesting that clinicians should consider these psychological characteristics in TbPAI counseling.