Using Internet To Lose Weight
People tend to lose a little more weight with online help than with traditional weight loss programs, a Japanese study said but combining the Internet with in-person contact appears to be the most effective in keeping extra kilograms at bay. With obesity on the rise, there have been many attempts to take advantage of the Internet to help people lose weight, mainly because it’s thought to be easier and less expensive.
But combining the Internet with in-person contact appears to be the most effective in keeping extra kilograms at bay. As obesity on the rise, there have been many attempts to take advantage of the Internet to help people lose weight, mainly because it’s thought to be easier and less expensive.
But while the study, which involved a review of 23 previous studies and was published in the International Journal of Obesity, did find a positive impact from online involvement, the overall effect was small.
In the first part of the study, all the participants had a 6-month initial weight loss program focusing on reducing calories and increasing exercise. The authors note that a 4 kg weight loss is considered clinically significant for a health benefit. In the next phase, those who had lost 4 kg or greater were randomized to different treatment arms. One arm was an Internet maintenance program.
These participants used an interactive website to self-monitor weight and enter information about their diet, level of physical activity, setting goals, making action plans and getting on line support. The website was designed to provide unlimited access., so users sould sign on when it was convenient at any time of the night or day.
At the 28-month mark, 65% of the initial group of 348 people were still actively logging on to the web site. Over the 28 months, about half the participants logged on at least 107 time and sessions lasted about 3 to 5 minutes.
A good Internet program enables participants to communicate in groups, monitor their eating and exercise habits, and get regular feedback from peers and supervisors, while focusing on behavior change.
People tend to lose a little more weight with online help than with traditional weight loss programs, a Japanese study said but combining the Internet with in-person contact appears to be the most effective in keeping extra kilograms at bay. With obesity on the rise, there have been many attempts to take advantage of the Internet to help people lose weight, mainly because it’s thought to be easier and less expensive.
But combining the Internet with in-person contact appears to be the most effective in keeping extra kilograms at bay. As obesity on the rise, there have been many attempts to take advantage of the Internet to help people lose weight, mainly because it’s thought to be easier and less expensive.
But while the study, which involved a review of 23 previous studies and was published in the International Journal of Obesity, did find a positive impact from online involvement, the overall effect was small.
In the first part of the study, all the participants had a 6-month initial weight loss program focusing on reducing calories and increasing exercise. The authors note that a 4 kg weight loss is considered clinically significant for a health benefit. In the next phase, those who had lost 4 kg or greater were randomized to different treatment arms. One arm was an Internet maintenance program.
These participants used an interactive website to self-monitor weight and enter information about their diet, level of physical activity, setting goals, making action plans and getting on line support. The website was designed to provide unlimited access., so users sould sign on when it was convenient at any time of the night or day.
At the 28-month mark, 65% of the initial group of 348 people were still actively logging on to the web site. Over the 28 months, about half the participants logged on at least 107 time and sessions lasted about 3 to 5 minutes.
A good Internet program enables participants to communicate in groups, monitor their eating and exercise habits, and get regular feedback from peers and supervisors, while focusing on behavior change.