Weight Loss on the Web: A Pilot Study Comparing a Commercial Website to a Structured Behavioral Intervention
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Vermont
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- weight change
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The primary purpose of this study was to compare weight loss achieved through a behavioral online intervention vs. a commercial self-help website. The investigators hypothesized that there would be no difference in weight loss between groups.
Detailed Description
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Novel approaches are needed to address this issue on a broad scale. The internet holds promise as a way to disseminate effective weight loss strategies. The primary purpose of this study was to compare weight loss achieved through a behavioral online intervention vs. a commercial self-help website. A second aim was to evaluate the utilization of web components and their relationship to weight loss between groups and within groups in order to determine what aspects of web usage correlate to weight loss.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •BMI between 25 and 39.9 kg/m2
- •18 or older
Exclusion Criteria
- •Planned to move within 1 year
- •Planned a pregnancy within 1 year
- •Take medications with weight implications
- •Unable to exercise moderately
- •Participating in another weight loss program
- •Lacked minimum computer requirements
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
weight change
Secondary Outcomes
- social influence components
- eating behavior
- web usage correlation to weight change