Internet delivered behavioral obesity treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of an Internet behavioral weight loss program; and determine if adding periodic in-person sessions to an Internet intervention improves outcomes.


METHODS
481 healthy overweight adults (28% minority) were randomized to one of 3 delivery methods of a behavioral weight loss program with weekly meetings: Internet (n=161), InPerson (n=158), or Hybrid (Internet+InPerson, n=162). Outcome variables were weight at baseline and 6 months and percent of subjects achieving a 5 and 7% weight loss. The study took place in two centers in Vermont and Arkansas from 2003 to 2008.


RESULTS
Conditions differed significantly in mean weight loss [8.0 (6.1) kg vs. 5.5 (5.6) kg vs. 6.0 (5.5) kg], for InPerson, Internet, and Hybrid respectively, p<0.01, n=462). Weight loss for InPerson was significantly greater than the Internet and Hybrid conditions (p<0.05). Although the proportion reaching a 5% weight loss did not differ, the proportion losing 7% did differ significantly (56.3% vs. 37.3% vs. 44.4% for InPerson, Internet, and Hybrid respectively, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that the Internet is a viable alternative to in-person treatment for the delivery and dissemination of a behavioral weight-control intervention. The addition of periodic in-person sessions did not improve outcomes.
Harvey-Berino
Jean
J
University of Vermont, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. jharvey@uvm.edu
West
Delia
D
Krukowski
Rebecca
R
Prewitt
Elaine
E
VanBiervliet
Alan
A
Ashikaga
Takamaru
T
Skelly
Joan
J
D000328:Adult; D001131:Arkansas; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014707:Vermont; D015431:Weight Loss