title: Lifestyle intervention using an internet-based curriculum with cell phone reminders for obese Chinese teens: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is an increasing public health problem affecting young people. The causes of obesity are multi-factorial among Chinese youth including lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. The use of an internet curriculum and cell phone reminders and texting may be an innovative means of increasing follow up and compliance with obese teens. The objectives of this study were to determine the feasibility of using an adapted internet curriculum and existing nutritional program along with cell phone follow up for obese Chinese teens.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized controlled study involving obese teens receiving care at a paediatric obesity clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Hong Kong. Forty-eight subjects aged 12 to 18 years were randomized into three groups. The control group received usual care visits with a physician in the obesity clinic every three months. The first intervention (IT) group received usual care visits every three months plus a 12-week internet-based curriculum with cell phone calls/texts reminders. The second intervention group received usual care visits every three months plus four nutritional counselling sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of the internet-based curriculum was shown to be feasible as evidenced by the high recruitment rate, internet log-in rate, compliance with completing the curriculum and responses to phone reminders. No significant differences in weight were found between IT, sLMP and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An internet-based curriculum with cell phone reminders as a supplement to usual care of obesity is feasible. Further study is required to determine whether an internet plus text intervention can be both an effective and a cost-effective adjunct to changing weight in obese youth.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-12002624.
authors.affiliation: Division of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Anisha A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Division of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Wing-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Hung-Kwan
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: So
authors.affiliation: Division of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Benjamin Hon-Kei
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Albert M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Shekhar M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kumta
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Suk-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Esther Yuet-Ying
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: E Anthony S
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D060145:Text Messaging; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*