ECHANGE: Using EHealth Design to Facilitate Weight Maintenance Following Initial Weight Loss

Obesity rates are rapidly increasing and even with diets and interventions aiding weight loss, an alarmingly large percentage of people struggle to maintain the lost weight. In the face of obesity, weight maintenance is therefore arising as a major obstacle and new innovative approaches are called for. Despite the fact that a substantial number of web-based diets, health and fitness focused interventions or "apps" already exist, few focus on weight maintenance, are research based or available post study. In addition, most have yet to show short- or long-term effect and few, if any, are developed together with users (e.g., patients, health care professionals). eHealth solutions may therefore be a "missing link" in supporting self-regulation and motivation for sustainable health behavior change and weight loss maintenance. The aim of this study is to evaluate a person-centered, evidence based interactive eHealth intervention facilitating weight maintenance following initial weight loss during a 3- month feasibility pilot trial.