Internet-based weight control programs have been shown effective in producing weight loss, but in-person delivery of behavioral weight control produces significantly greater weight loss than on-line delivery of the same program. Motivational Interviewing has been shown to increase weight loss when delivered as an adjunct to in-person weight loss programs but has not been examined in conjunction with web-based obesity treatment. Therefore, the overall goal of this project is to determine if the addition of on-line Motivational Interviewing to a web-based group behavioral obesity treatment program will augment weight loss outcomes.
This randomized controlled trial is designed to determine whether weight losses in a group behavioral weight loss intervention conducted over the Internet are increased with the inclusion of individual, online MI sessions. All participants will receive the same online 6-month group-based behavioral weight loss program followed by 12 months of weight maintenance. Overweight and obese adults at two study sties (N=426) will be randomized to (1) Internet intervention; or 2) Internet intervention with individual MI sessions occurring at three month intervals on a fixed schedule (Internet+MI-Fixed). Assessments will be conducted every six months and will include measures of body weight and height, diet and exercise behaviors, Quality of Life, adherence measures (eg., attendance, compliance with self-monitoring), social influence components, motivation, treatment satisfaction, demographic data and descriptive information regarding use of website components. A third arm was added for the final 3 intervention cohorts. All participants received the program as described above with the addition of motivational interviewing contingent on participants' attendance in classes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
495
Participants will engage in self monitoring, will receive skills training to help cope with environmental triggers, and will receive nutrition advice.
In addition to weekly group meetings, self-monitoring through recording calorie and fat intake daily as well as exercise, participants will meet one-on-one with an MI counselor on-line in order to augment an individual's motivation to change behavior.
Participants will attend weekly behavioral internet meetings. They may or may not receive Motivational Interviewing depending on their class attendance.
University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Behavioral Weight Management Program/Univ of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont, United States
Change in Body Weight
Weights will be taken in street clothes without shoes using a hospital quality digital floor model scale.
Time frame: 6 months
Change in Body Weight
Time frame: 12 months
Change in Body Weight
Time frame: 18 months
Change in body weight
Weights will be taken in street clothes without shoes using a hospital quality digital floor model scale. Height will be taken at baseline using a wall-mounted stadiometer and BMI will be calculated as weight (kg)/height(m2)
Time frame: 0
Adherence to Treatment Components
Items will include attendance at chat group meetings and completion of online food diaries and exercise records.
Time frame: 6 months
Adherence to Treatment Components
Time frame: 12 months
Adherence to Treatment Components
Time frame: 18 months
Motivation Measures
We will assess participant motivation for participating in a weight reduction program and adhering to the program.
Time frame: 0
Motivation Measures
Time frame: 6
Motivation Measures
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Time frame: 12 months
Motivation Measures
Time frame: 18 months