A ‘magic stone’ no cure for obesity

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The results of the University of Pittsburgh JAMA study on activity trackers didn’t surprise Mayo Clinic obesity researcher James Levine. Last month he published in the research journal Technology and Investment his own observation on wearable technology.

He calls consumers’ false belief in activity trackers an example of the Baetylus Theorem, using the term for ancient Greek sacred stones.

“It’s based on deep psychology and sociology,” he said. “The Baetylus Theorem says there’s a magic stone you can touch. … It will help you. There’s a basic belief in society that we believe in technology.”

However, in the journal article, Dr. Levine said there’s a lack of scientific proof that the sensor devices improve health, proof that is required in the development of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. The device doesn’t cure anything, he said.

“It isn’t machines that make people better; it’s people that make people better,” he said.

As a physician he sees patients seeking a simple answer for weight loss.

“Often my patients are battling with issues; some are psychological, some physical, some spiritual. They’re in real torment.” They want doctors to fix them, like a mechanic, he said. “The car is fixed and it’s ready to go.”

Technology seems to offer promise, he said.

“In wearables, we assign to them the full belief they are the solution. They divert attention to what will help, with our inner issues and our behaviors.”

Health care providers, he said, must explain to patients interested in losing weight, or who want to stop smoking, that their own behavior must change.

Can the technology help at all?

“These devices allow selfmonitoring, and they allow a health care team to monitor a person,” Dr. Levine said. However, he wears no devices himself.

“I can tell you I have held every meeting today as a walk-and-talk. I’ve had four meetings in four hours . ... I actually don’t need any wearable device to know I had four hours of walking today.”