Weight Loss and Online Food and Exercise Diary Engagement
Author Information
Author(s): Fiona Johnson, Jane Wardle
Primary Institution: Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London
Hypothesis
Greater engagement with self-monitoring tools or social support will be associated with greater weight loss among participants in an online weight-control programme.
Conclusion
Using self-monitoring tools and participating in online support are linked to weight loss in a commercial online weight control programme.
Supporting Evidence
- Engagement with food diaries accounted for 13% of variance in weight loss in women.
- Men in the highest tertile of engagement with food diaries were 3.45 times more likely to achieve clinically significant weight loss.
- Women who used online forums were more likely to lose weight compared to those who did not.
Takeaway
If you keep track of what you eat and get support from others online, you're more likely to lose weight.
Methodology
Retrospective analysis of weight change among 3621 subscribers to a commercial Internet-based weight loss programme.
Potential Biases
Participants who engaged more may have been more motivated, potentially skewing results.
Limitations
The study's retrospective nature may limit the applicability of findings to prospective studies.
Participant Demographics
2979 women and 642 men, with a mean age of approximately 36 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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