Weight Loss Support on the Web
Weight Loss Web Support Study Background
Dieters who receive feedback via e-mail - either from a nutritionist or
from an automatic computer program - about their diets lose more weight
than those who are left on their own, a Brown Medical School weight loss
study shows. This research continues to build on previous work that showed
dieters who get weight-loss advice via e-mail from a nutrition counselor
lose more weight than those who go it alone.
Weight Loss Web Support Study Method
Experts had 192 men and women who were at least 20 pounds overweight follow
a 1,200- to 1,500-calorie-a-day diet and exercise plan. Participants were
randomized into three groups. They all had access to a Web site with tips
and bulletin boards. Some received no counseling. Others sent in their
weight loss diet and exercise plans and got personalized e-mail counseling
from a nutritionist. The rest sent in their diets that were analyzed by
a computer program, and they received practical feedback tailored to them.
Weight Loss Web Support Study Results
The findings at three months:
- The group who got no counseling lost
an average of 5 pounds apiece.
- Those who got counseling from the nutrition
professional via e-mail lost 12 pounds.
- Those who had the computerized feedback
lost 9 pounds.
At six months:
- Those who had no counseling were still
down only 5 pounds.
- Those who had e-mail help from a professional
lost 13 pounds.
- Those who had the computerized counseling
lost 7.7 pounds.
Weight Loss Web Support Study Conclusion
"We are looking for ways to provide helpful feedback for weight loss
without having a human do it," says Deborah Tate of Brown Medical
School. Tate, who has conducted previous studies on the benefits of e-mail
counseling with a professional, says she hopes the computer program can
be fine-tuned so it's as helpful to dieters as the individualized advice
from the nutritionist. This could eventually lead to a public health approach,
which could go a long way in helping millions lose weight.
Source: www.usatoday.com Oct 2003
|