title: Be Positive Be Healthe: Development and Implementation of a Targeted e-Health Weight Loss Program for Young Women.
abstract: Greater numbers of women are entering young adulthood overweight, but traditional weight loss programs do not appeal to them. This article describes the development and evaluation of an e-health weight loss intervention for young women (18-30 years of age).
  
  
  
  Young women's preferences for a targeted weight loss program were investigated via a cross-sectional online survey. A 3-month targeted weight loss program for young women was developed based on the formative research. A single-arm pre-post study was conducted to evaluate the acceptability of the intervention (process evaluation survey and objective usage data) and to estimate the treatments' effects on weight-related outcomes from baseline to 3 months.
  
  
  
  Online survey respondents (n = 274) indicated preferences for various technologies (Web site, online quizzes with e-mail feedback and goal setting, an online discussion forum, smartphone application, e-mail newsletters, and text messages). Eighteen (mean ± standard deviation [SD] age, 22.8 ± 3.2 years; body mass index, 27.3 ± 1.6 kg/m(2)) women entered the pre-post study. Mean satisfaction was 3.4 ± 1.0 (maximum of 5), and 66.7% of participants completed the study. Significant reductions in mean ± SD weight (-1.5 ± 2.4 kg; p = 0.02) and waist circumference (-0.7 ± 1.4 cm; p = 0.04) were observed.
  
  
  
  Due to lower than anticipated participant satisfaction, modifications to the program content and modes of delivery are required to ensure a higher proportion of young women complete and actively engage with the program. The positive effects of treatment on weight-related outcomes supports further refinement and evaluation of targeted, e-health weight loss interventions for young women.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia .
authors.forename: Melinda J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hutchesson
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Education, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia .
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: 3 School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia .
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Callister
authors.affiliation: 4 School of Design Communication and IT, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia .
authors.forename: Ilung
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pranata
authors.affiliation: 4 School of Design Communication and IT, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia .
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia .
authors.forename: Clare E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012944:Social Support; D060145:Text Messaging; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: behavioral health; e-health; mobile health; technology; telemedicine