FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MORE THAN 80% OF PARTICIPANTS LIKED THE EASE OF USE AND MORE THAN 60% OF PARTICIPANTS LOST WEIGHT DURING THE MYNDSET MVP STUDY

VANCOUVER, BC - AUGUST 12, 2022 - 37 women with overweight and obesity from Canada and the US were selected randomly to participate in an 8-week study focused on product acceptance, usability, and feasibility of the company’s MYNDSET Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

“It’s important to note that while testing acceptance, usability, and feasibility was key what was even more important to our company is our mission to improve access, delivery, affordability, equity, and outcomes in healthcare for our customers. For example, the company used the Unity Technologies Social Impact grant to select Group C from underserved communities such as African American and Hispanic women with overweight and obesity in low-income neighborhoods in Houston, Texas.” Says Michael Bidu, Founder & CEO, MYND Therapeutics. 

MYND’s first product is an immersive behavior change and weight loss program that delivers personalized Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) enhanced by virtual and augmented reality consisting of skill development, education, virtual exposure therapy, gamification, and social support so that people shift their mindset and behaviors to achieve sustainable health goals. MYND uses VR to simulate reality and retrain the brain and AR to fit into daily life and provide guidance throughout everyday activities like eating, exercising, practicing skills, reflecting, and more. 

The study tested the MYNDSET MVP app with three different groups of women: 

  • 17 women in Group A (mobile app on iPhone + Apple Watch + VR headset for smartphone);

  • 10 women in Group B (mobile app on iPhone + Apple Watch + Oculus Quest 2); and 

  • 10 women in Group C (mobile app on iPhone and Cloud-based AR). 

21 women or 56.7% of participants completed the study. 

The intervention uses an exposure model (mobile, VR, AR) to provide cognitive behavior therapy regarding eating control in those living with obesity. A series of 8 modules, supported by some version of virtual reality or augmented reality provides a context for the participant to understand their relationship with food and the psychological and biological factors that control the appetite system. The goal is to increase the ability of the participant to engage in restraint in the face of cravings. 

A gold standard method of assessing restraint in the face of cravings is a validated instrument called the Control of Eating Questionnaire (COEQ). This scale yields 4 scales; cravings control (increased scores mean greater control over cravings), cravings for sweets (higher scores for stronger cravings), cravings for savory (higher scores for stronger cravings), and positive mood (higher scores for more positive mood). This scale was administered at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. We analyzed the changes in scale scores over the pilot using a 2-factor analysis of variance, with one between-subjects factor (mobile, VR, AR) and one within-subjects factor (baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks). 

The study took place between March 1st and June 30, 2022. Outcomes and feedback were collected at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Our research and scientific team reviewed all the data and feedback we collected from the participants. The data will be used to develop a commercial product that meets or exceeds the needs of our customers. 

Here are some of the highlights: 

The product acceptance was high. More than 80% of the completers liked the app. AR experience was more positively received than the VR experience and much easier to use. The AR experience was widely liked by Group C. The VR experience in Oculus Quest 2 was liked by those who were able to use it. The mobile VR that used a Google cardboard-like device was strongly disliked because of the poor experience in VR. 

The product was widely accepted by all groups for its good experience and ease of use. More than 80% of the women in all groups rated the usability of the app very high. Groups B and C reported learning the most from the app. 

60%+ of women across all groups reported weight loss by 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, 55.6% of mobile participants, 60% of VR, and 66.7% of AR participants reported losing weight. Group C experienced earlier weight loss than the other groups. Women felt cravings while in VR or AR across all groups; Oculus Quest 2 and AR more than mobile VR.

In their words: 

  • “I loved that the modules are very in tune with me and how it is personalized for me. I loved the calorie counting and told me that I should eat a recommended amount of calories. I also like that it allowed me to reflect and think about choices I made.” (Oculus Quest 2 Participant)

  • “I am consistently incorporating more fresh fruit, veggies and lean proteins in my daily diet. I am also giving myself more grace and encouraging myself to continue with the process.” (Oculus Quest 2 Participant)

  • “I learned to really consider my food choices if they were unhealthy choices. To imagine if I would actually get satisfaction from eating it.” (AR Participant)

  • “I liked the accessibility and how it would improve my mood afterward. It’s a great distraction from the foods I’m craving.” (AR Participant) 

  • “I now know that I have a hard time resisting food in the late evenings. 8 pm is a high desire time for me and I now am conscientious of this and do other things to avoid having the desire to snack.” (Mobile VR participant)

For more information contact:

Michael Bidu

Founder and CEO

MYND Therapeutics Inc. 

Email: news@myndtx.com

ABOUT MYND THERAPEUTICS

MYND Therapeutics is a purpose-driven consumer health technology company based in Vancouver, Canada that makes software as a therapy. MYND’s creative disruption thesis is that software-as-therapy that focuses on the human mind and cognitive reframing will revolutionize healthcare. Our customer-centric, science-based, and clinically proven digital therapeutics will radically change the prevention, treatment, and management of conditions like obesity and eating disorders that are genetically inherited and centered in the brain. For additional info please visit myndtx.com