AI. Hate it or love it, it has permeated many industries and professions, and health coaching is no exception. But while some people debate whether human health coaches are better than AI coaches, one study showed that a combination of the two worked wonderfully for weight loss.
The study looked at individuals who used a health and fitness app named HealthifyMe. Those who used the more expensive version got access to a human coach with an AI coach, while those who used the less expensive one only got access to an AI coach. Statistical matching was used to minimize bias, and from that process, over 30,000 individuals were included in the study. Here are the results:
On average, individuals who used the plan with a human and AI coach lost 2.12 kgs (4.67 pounds) in three months, compared to 1.22 kgs (2.69 pounds) for those who used AI coaching alone. Although the weight loss may seem small, the results were significant and telling. In the end, the human and AI option was more effective for weight loss.
This study can greatly encourage developers and organizations to consider including human health coaches in their creation of apps and programs.
To ready more, visit this Michigan University’s newspage or download the full study at https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1x_T8r613GBSbLC0ey9X5t-sCDD3sFo5q