THE INTERNET HAS WEIGHT- LOSS POTENTIAL
A new study says the more people log on to a weight management websites, the more likely they are to maintain their weight loss.
The three year trial study by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research was one of the largest and longest ever conducted, with 1,600 participants at four study sites across the United States.
The researchers said the website was designed to offer support for weight maintenance through five behavioural strategies:
Reinforcing existing behavioral self-management such as limiting calories.
Encouraging new self-management skills, such as posing questions to nutrition and exercise experts.
Improving self-monitoring.
Encouraging long-term use of the website by providing innovative content.
Promoting social support on an interactive bulletin board.
Participants had to lose nine pounds in the first six months to remain in the trial, then they were put into three randomized groups: one with no intervention, one that had monthly contact and a personal health coach, and one that was given unlimited access to a weight management website created for the trial.
The Internet group included 348 participants who were encouraged to log in at least once a week. If they didn’t, they received e-mail reminders and follow-up automated phone messages. Once on the website, participants were prompted to record their weight, their minutes of exercise, and the number of days they kept food diaries.
The study says users who consistently logged in and recorded their weight almost every day maintained the greatest weight loss, keeping off an average of nine pounds, the amount they initially had to lose.
People who logged in once a month kept off an average of five pounds, meaning they gained back at least four pounds.
Those who logged on less than once a month kept off an average of three pounds.
At the end of the study, 65% of the participants were still logging on to the website. The study authors said they are encouraged by this level of participation because it is rare to see that kind of commitment — even in shorter-term weight maintenance studies that use the Internet.
“Consistency and accountability are essential in any weight maintenance program. The unique part of this intervention was that it was available on the Internet, whenever and wherever people wanted to use it,” said study lead author Kristine L. Funk.
The study done by Funk and her colleagues was reported in Tuesday’s issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research
