WatchWell: Simple and Practical Strategies to Reduce the Negative Health Impact of Sedentary Screen Time

Launched by ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY · Apr 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The WatchWell trial is a study designed to explore how simple strategies and technology can help reduce the health risks associated with spending too much time in front of screens, especially in the evening. It aims to see if home-based tools and wearable devices can encourage healthier habits for people who are less active and spend at least three hours a day on recreational screen time. This research focuses on individuals who may be dealing with conditions like obesity, prediabetes, or cardiovascular diseases.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be at least 26 years old and have a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher (or 25 or higher if they're Asian). They should also be considered insufficiently active, meaning they do not meet the recommended amount of weekly exercise, and they typically consume calories after 8 PM. Participants can expect to use easy-to-follow strategies and technology to help change their routines. It's important to note that the study is not currently recruiting participants, and specific health conditions or lifestyle factors may prevent some individuals from taking part. If you're curious about your eligibility or how this study might help improve your health, it could be worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria
• • ≥26 years of age
• • BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2\*; ≥25 kg/m2, if Asian (full or multiple race)\*\*
• • Insufficiently active (per US National Guidelines for Physical Activity of 150 minutes of MVPA/Week)
• • Reporting an average of ≥3 hours of recreational sedentary screen time (rSST) per day, that usually extends at least until 9:00pm.
• • On a typical night, consumes calories (food and/or drink) after 8:00pm.
• • Meet at least 2 criteria for metabolic syndrome
• • Central adiposity: waist circumference \>40 inches (men); \>35 inches (women)
• • Elevated blood pressure: SBP \>130 mmHg and/or DBP \>85 mmHg OR controlled with medication
• • Low high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol: \<40 mg/dL (men); \<50 mg/dL (women)
• • Elevated triglycerides: \>150 mg/dL OR controlled with medication
• • Elevated fasting glucose: ≥100 mg/dL OR controlled with medication
• • Exclusion Criteria
• • Conditions related to sleep disruption, including lactation, pregnancy, mid-night care providers, sleep disorders, severe sleep apnea
• • History of hypoglycemia
• • Pacemaker
• • Caffeine consumption in excess and/or after 5pm (excess equals \>4 cups of coffee per day or equivalent)
• • Involvement in other physical activity, diet, or weight loss programs/studies
• • Weight change of 5% up or down in the last three months.
• • Drug abuse
• • THC use (smoking, edibles)
• • Excessive alcohol use (for women, 8 or more drinks per week; for men, 15 or more drinks per week)
• • Current smoker or user of any nicotine source - any amount or form (vapor/e-cig/tobacco/patch, gum, etc.)
• • Medications that markedly impact glucose metabolism and sleep (insulin, corticosteroids, growth hormone, melatonin)
• • Previous or current diagnosis of a clinical eating disorder (e.g., night eating syndrome, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder); or self-report eating disorder behaviors
• • Unstable or poorly controlled blood glucose (e.g., hypoglycemia, fasting glucose greater than 125 mg/dL)
• • Chronic illness that may be associated with weight change (HIV/AIDS, active cancer, or uncontrolled thyroid disease)
• • Shift work
• • Recent or upcoming jetlag (travel 3 months prior and during study that is \>1 time zone away from Arizona)
• • Current practice of evening and nighttime blue light blocking.
• • Poorly controlled hypertension (SBP ≥165 or DBP ≥100)
• • Any condition or circumstance that would prevent compliance to the protocol
• • Use non-android phone as their primary/personal phone