Do individual, online motivational interviewing chat sessions enhance weight loss in a group-based, online weight control program?
To examine whether the addition of online motivational interviewing (MI) chats to a Web-based, group behavioral obesity treatment program augments weight loss outcomes relative to the Web-based weight control program alone.



Healthy individuals (N = 398, 24% minority) with overweight/obesity were randomized to a 36-session group Internet behavioral weight control treatment (BT) or the same group Internet treatment plus six individual MI chat sessions (BT + MI). Both conditions received weekly synchronous online chat group sessions for 6 months followed by 12 monthly group chats. Participants in both groups received identical behavioral lessons and individualized therapist feedback on progress toward meeting exercise and calorie goals. BT + MI also received six individual MI sessions delivered by a separate MI counselor via Web chat. Weight loss was measured at 6 and 18 months.



There were no significant differences in weight loss between BT (-5.5 ± 6.0 kg) and BT + MI (-5.1 ± 6.3 kg) at 6 months or at 18 months (-3.3 ± 7.1 kg vs. -3.5 ± 7.7 kg for BT and BT + MI, respectively). Attendance at group chats did not differ between groups, nor did self-monitoring patterns, suggesting comparable engagement in the weight control program in both conditions.



Online MI chat sessions were not a viable strategy to enhance Web-based weight control treatment outcomes.
Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA. westds@mailbox.sc.edu.
Delia Smith
DS
West
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
Jean R
JR
Harvey
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Rebecca A
RA
Krukowski
College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
T Elaine
TE
Prewitt
Department of Medical Biostatistics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
Jeffrey
J
Priest
Department of Medical Biostatistics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
Takamaru
T
Ashikaga
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D002149:Energy Intake; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062405:Motivational Interviewing / Q000379:methods*; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs