title: Personal digital assistants are comparable to traditional diaries for dietary self-monitoring during a weight loss program.
abstract: Dietary self-monitoring is considered the core of behavioral weight control programs. As software for personal digital assistants (PDA) has become more available, this study investigated whether the use of a PDA would improve dietary self-monitoring frequency and subsequent weight loss over the use of traditional paper diaries. One-hundred-seventy-six adults (BMI 25-39.9) participated in a 6-month behavioral weight control program. Treatment subjects (n = 61) were provided with a PalmZire 21 with Calorie King's Diet Diary software installed. Their self-monitoring habits and weight loss were compared with the results from a previous program (n = 115) which followed the same protocol using paper diaries for self-monitoring. No significant differences in weight loss or dietary self-monitoring were found. More frequent self-monitoring correlated with weight loss in both groups (p<.001). People seeking to lose weight should be encouraged to self-monitor and be matched with a mode of self-monitoring that is fitting to their lifestyle and skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, Canada.
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.forename: Rachel K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harvey-Berino
authors.forename: Beth Casey
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D015930:Diet Records; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care; D012984:Software; D015431:Weight Loss