None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Obesity is at epidemic proportions and affects over 7 million Australians with an estimated economic cost of $4 billion. Online weight management programs are widely accessible and have the potential to be a cost effective treatment option. However, the effectiveness of online weight management programs is largely undetermined and there has been no research to date to establish which online program features enhance weight loss outcomes. Using a Randomised Controlled Trial design, this study will provide evidence about the effectiveness of treating overweight and obese people via the Internet. Compared to a standard online program, the impact of enhanced online features, such as personalised feedback and strategies to enhance website use, will be evaluated for their impact on both initial weight loss and the maintenance of lost weight in the longer-term.
Interventions
An enhanced version of a standard 12 week online weight management program.
Standard online program: these subjects will have free access to a web-based weight loss program for the duration of the project. This online program has the following features:
Food and physical activity diaries and search engines to facilitate entry of food
Individualised calorie targets
Daily and weekly calculations of energy balance and nutrients
Weekly menu plan and grocery list
Weekly physical activity plan
Monit
An enhanced version of a standard 12 week online weight management program. Standard online program: these subjects will have free access to a web-based weight loss program for the duration of the project. This online program has the following features: Food and physical activity diaries and search engines to facilitate entry of food Individualised calorie targets Daily and weekly calculations of energy balance and nutrients Weekly menu plan and grocery list Weekly physical activity plan Monitoring of body weight, waist and hips The Enhanced online program: These subjects will have free access to the standard online program. In addition, this group will be provided with automated (computer-generated) personalised feedback based on their diet and physical activity diaries, their use or lack of use of the standard website features, and the level of success of their weight loss.
Sponsors
ARC
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
a history of major medical problems such as heart disease or diabetes; orthopaedic or joint problems that would be a barrier to physical activity such as walking; recently lost 4.5 kg or more in weight; are taking medications that might be affected by weight loss or affect weight loss.
Exclusion criteria
Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 40; Agree to not participate in other weight loss programs during the study; Pass a health-screening questionnaire and are available for assessment sessions; Have access to a computer with e-mail and Internet facilities
Outcome results
None listed