Effective Weight Maintenance for the Working Age

Overview

This study aims to compare the effectiveness and adherence of three web-based weight management interventions, all based on the HealthyWeightCoaching (HWC) within a HealthyWeightHub.fi (HWH) platform. HWC is a 12-month web-based intervention including information and exercises to promote weight loss. Each patient is allocated a personal coach to encourage progress on the platform. In the current setting, the investigators study how minimal added support will affect the effectiveness and adherence of the web-based program. The patients are randomized into three groups all of which include the HWC platform. In addition, group 1 will be offered three individual face-to-face sessions via video and group 2 three group face-to-face sessions via video. Group 3 acts as the control group offering the basic HWC protocol. The patients (target n=120) are enrolled from the occupational health of the city of Helsinki.

Obesity is one of the major public health problems globally, affecting an ever-increasing proportion of working age adults. In addition of increasing the risk of many obesity-associated diseases, obesity is associated to impaired ability to work, making it a relevant occupational health concern. Treatment of obesity requires long-term interventions, but nevertheless, it is challenging to provide long-term treatment when resources in real-life health care systems are limited. To that need, new cost-effective and accessible intervention methods are created. One of these is the a real-life web-based obesity management program HealthyWeightCoaching (HWC). HWC has shown promising results in obesity management, but alike in other fully virtual interventions, one of the challenges has been adherence. Creating hybrid-models by addition of face-to-face contacts to the web-based structure, has been shown to improve adherence and therefore the effectiveness of the intervention. However, data on hybrid interventions for weight management is still scarce and calls for further research. In the current setting, the investigators study how minimal added support will affect the effectiveness and adherence of the web-based program. The patients are randomized into three groups all of which include the HWC platform. In addition, group 1 will be offered three individual face-to-face sessions via video and group 2 three group face-to-face sessions via video. Group 3 acts as the control group offering the basic HWC protocol. Data on health and lifestyle are collected at 0, 6, 12 month time points. The 12-month intervention is followed by a 5 year monitoring period. The data collection includes questionnaires, measurements and laboratory tests. The patients (target n=120) are enrolled from the occupational health of the city of Helsinki. The participation is free for the patient.