The Behavioral Intervention with Technology for E-Weight Loss Study (BITES): Incorporating Energy Balance Models and the Bite Counter into an Online Behavioral Weight Loss Program

AbstractThis study evaluated feasibility and acceptability of adding energy balance modeling displayed on weight graphs combined with a wrist-worn bite counting sensor against a traditional online behavioral weight loss program. Adults with a BMI of 27–45 kg/m2 (83.3% women) were randomized to receive a 12-week online behavioral weight loss program with 12 weeks of continued contact (n = 9; base program), the base program plus a graph of their actual and predicted weight change based on individualized physiological parameters (n = 7), or the base program, graph, and a Bite Counter device for monitoring and limiting eating (n = 8). Participants attended weekly clinic weigh-ins plus baseline, midway (12 weeks), and study culmination (24 weeks) assessments of feasibility, acceptability, weight, and behavioral outcomes. In terms of feasibility, participants completed online lessons (M = 7.04 of 12 possible lessons, SD = 4.02) and attended weigh-ins (M = 16.81 visits, SD = 7.24). Six-month retention appears highest among nomogram participants, and weigh-in attendance and lesson completion appear highest in Bite Counter participants. Acceptability was sufficient across groups. Bite Counter use (days with ≥ 2 eating episodes) was moderate (47.8%) and comparable to other studies. Participants lost 4.6% ± 4.5 of their initial body weight at 12 weeks and 4.5% ± 5.8 at 24 weeks. All conditions increased their total physical activity minutes and use of weight control strategies (behavioral outcomes). Although all groups lost weight and the study procedures were feasible, acceptability can be improved with advances in the technology. Participants were satisfied with the online program and nomograms, and future research on engagement, adherence, and integration with other owned devices is needed. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02857595

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Examining Social Influence on Participation and Outcomes among a Network of Behavioral Weight-Loss Intervention Enrollees

Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1155/2013/480630 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

T. L. Carson ◽

K. E. Eddings ◽

R. A. Krukowski ◽

S. J. Love ◽

J. R. Harvey-Berino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Networks ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Black Women ◽

Weight Change ◽

Weight Control ◽

Social Contact ◽

Weight Loss Program ◽

Behavioral Weight Loss ◽

Self Monitoring

Research suggests that social networks, social support, and social influence are associated with weight trajectories among treatment- and non-treatment-seeking individuals. This study examined the impact of having a social contact who participated in the same group behavioral weight-control intervention in the absence of specific social support training on women engaged in a weight-loss program. Participants (n=92; 100% female; 54% black; mean age:46±10years; mean BMI:38±6) were grouped based upon whether or not they reported a social contact enrolled previously/concurrently in our behavioral weight-control studies. Primary outcomes were 6-month weight change and treatment adherence (session attendance and self-monitoring). Half of the participants (53%) indicated that they had a social contact; black women were more likely to report a social contact than white women (67.3% versus 39.5%;P<0.01). Among participants with a social contact, 67% reported at least one contact as instrumental in the decision to enroll in the program. Those with a contact lost more weight (5.9 versus 3.7 kg;P=0.04), attended more group sessions (74% versus 54%;P<0.01), and submitted more self-monitoring journals (69% versus 54%;P=0.01) than those without a contact. Participants' weight change was inversely associated with social contacts' weight change (P=0.04). There was no association between participant and contact’s group attendance or self-monitoring. Social networks may be a promising vehicle for recruiting and engaging women in a behavioral weight-loss program, particularly black women. The role of a natural social contact deserves further investigation.

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Family support and weight-loss strategies among adolescents reporting sustained weight loss

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980012002820 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 499-504 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jennifer Utter ◽

Simon Denny ◽

Robyn Dixon ◽

Shanthi Ameratunga ◽

Tasileta Teevale

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

New Zealand ◽

Young People ◽

Family Support ◽

Weight Control ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Sustained Weight Loss ◽

No Weight Loss ◽

Weight Control Strategies

AbstractObjectiveThe current research aims to describe the weight-control strategies and family support for young people reporting sustained weight loss in a large, population-based sample.DesignData were collected as part of Youth'07, a nationally representative survey of the health and well-being of New Zealand youth.SettingNew Zealand secondary schools, 2007.SubjectsSecondary-school students (n 9107).ResultsAmong young people who attempted weight loss in the previous year, 51 % reported long-term weight loss (lost weight and maintained weight loss for 6 months). Students reporting long-term weight loss were more likely to be male, but did not differ by age, ethnicity, socio-economic deprivation or measured weight status from students who reported temporary/recent weight loss or no weight loss. Students with long-term weight loss also reported healthier weight-control strategies (e.g. exercising, eating fewer fatty foods, eating fewer sweets), high parental support for healthy eating/activity and were less likely to report being teased about their weight by their family and having junk food available at home than students with temporary/recent weight loss or no weight loss.ConclusionsApproximately 50 % of young people attempting weight loss reported sustained weight loss. Young people who reported sustained weight loss appeared to have more family support than those who did not achieve this, suggesting the importance for weight-control services and interventions in adolescents of actively engaging the family.

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The Weight of Racial Discrimination: Examining the Association Between Racial Discrimination and Change in Adiposity Among Emerging Adult Women Enrolled in a Behavioral Weight Loss Program

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities ◽

10.1007/s40615-021-01030-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kristal Lyn Brown ◽

Anika L. Hines ◽

Nao Hagiwara ◽

Shawn Utsey ◽

Robert A. Perera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Emerging Adult ◽

Weight Loss Program ◽

Adult Women ◽

Behavioral Weight Loss ◽

Emerging Adult Women

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Weight change, psychological well-being, and vitality in adults participating in a cognitive–behavioral weight loss program.

Health Psychology ◽

10.1037/a0029186 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 439-446 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Charles Swencionis ◽

Judith Wylie-Rosett ◽

Michelle R. Lent ◽

Mindy Ginsberg ◽

Christopher Cimino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Weight Change ◽

Well Being ◽

Weight Loss Program ◽

Cognitive Behavioral ◽

Behavioral Weight Loss ◽

Psychological Well Being

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The Relationship Between Implicit Preference Between High-Calorie Foods and Dietary Lapse Types in a Behavioral Weight Loss Program

10.22186/jyi.39.3.27-31 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Clare Mangubat ◽

Rebecca Crochiere ◽

Evan Forman

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Weight Loss Program ◽

Behavioral Weight Loss ◽

The Relationship ◽

High Calorie

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“Taking Charge of One’s Life”: A Model for Weight Management Success

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1604 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Marlene Adams

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Grounded Theory ◽

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Weight Management ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Weight Control ◽

Weight Loss Program ◽

Taking Charge ◽

Weight Loss Treatments ◽

Weight Loss Study

Obesity is a serious, prevalent, and refractory disorder that increases with age particularly in women who enroll in formal weight loss treatments. This study examined the processes used by obese postmenopausal women as they participated in a formal weight loss program. Using grounded theory, interviews were conducted with 14 women engaged in a formal weight loss study examining success with specific, targeted weight loss treatments based on one’s weight control self-efficacy typology. “Taking Charge of One’s Life” emerged as a model for weight management success, comprised of three phases: engaging, internalizing, and keeping one’s commitment. This study supports the unique, complex, and individualized nature of making a decision to lose weight and then maintaining one’s commitment to weight loss.

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Discrepancies Between Clinician and Participant Intervention Adherence Ratings Predict Percent Weight Change During a Six-Month Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention

Translational Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1093/tbm/ibab011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1006-1014

Author(s):

Michael P Berry ◽

Elisabeth M Seburg ◽

Meghan L Butryn ◽

Robert W Jeffery ◽

Melissa M Crane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Weight Change ◽

Weight Control ◽

Calorie Intake ◽

Behavioral Weight Loss ◽

Weight Loss Treatment ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Weight Control Behaviors ◽

Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention ◽

Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment

Abstract Background Individuals receiving behavioral weight loss treatment frequently fail to adhere to prescribed dietary and self-monitoring instructions, resulting in weight loss clinicians often needing to assess and intervene in these important weight control behaviors. A significant obstacle to improving adherence is that clinicians and clients sometimes disagree on the degree to which clients are actually adherent. However, prior research has not examined how clinicians and clients differ in their perceptions of client adherence to weight control behaviors, nor the implications for treatment outcomes. Purpose In the context of a 6-month weight-loss treatment, we examined differences between participants and clinicians when rating adherence to weight control behaviors (dietary self-monitoring; limiting calorie intake) and evaluated the hypothesis that rating one’s own adherence more highly than one’s clinician would predict less weight loss during treatment. Methods Using clinician and participant-reported measures of self-monitoring and calorie intake adherence, each assessed using a single item with a 7- or 8-point scale, we characterized discrepancies between participant and clinician adherence and examined associations with percent weight change over 6 months using linear mixed-effects models. Results Results indicated that ratings of adherence were higher when reported by participants and supported the hypothesis that participants who provided higher adherence ratings relative to their clinicians lost less weight during treatment (p < 0.001). Conclusions These findings suggest that participants in weight loss treatment frequently appraise their own adherence more highly than their clinicians and that participants who do so to a greater degree tend to lose less weight.

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Behavioral and Cardiovascular Effects of a Behavioral Weight Loss Program for People Living with HIV

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-019-02503-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 1032-1041 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rena R. Wing ◽

Katie Becofsky ◽

Edward J. Wing ◽

Jeanne McCaffery ◽

Matthew Boudreau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Cardiovascular Effects ◽

Weight Loss Program ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Behavioral Weight Loss ◽

Living With Hiv

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A Digital Health Weight Loss Program in 250,000 Individuals

Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1155/2020/9497164 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Conor Senecal ◽

Robert Jay Widmer ◽

Beth R. Larrabee ◽

Mariza de Andrade ◽

Lilach O. Lerman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Mobile Application ◽

Weight Control ◽

Large Scale ◽

Digital Health ◽

Large Population ◽

Weight Loss Program ◽

Significant Weight Loss ◽

Face To Face ◽

Clinically Significant

Importance. Obesity is a worsening epidemic worldwide. Effective and accessible weight loss programs to combat obesity on a large scale are warranted, but a need for frequent face-to-face care might impose a limitation. Objective. To evaluate whether individuals following a weight loss program based on a mobile application, wireless scale, and nutritional program but no face-to-face care can achieve clinically significant weight loss in a large cohort. Design. Retrospective observational analysis. Setting. China from October 2016 to December 2017. Participants. Mobile application users with a minimum of 2 weights (baseline and ≥35 days). Intervention. A commercial (Weijian Technologies) weight loss program consisting of a dietary replacement, self-monitoring using a wireless home scale, and frequent guidance via mobile application. Main Outcome. Mean weight change around 42, 60, 90, and 120 days after program initiation with subgroup analysis by gender, age, and frequency of use. Results. 251,718 individuals, with a mean age of 37.3 years (SD: 9.86) (79% female), were included with a mean weight loss of 4.3 kg (CI: ±0.02) and a mean follow-up of 120 days (SD: 76.8 days). Mean weight loss at 42, 60, 90, and 120 d was 4.1 kg (CI: ±0.02), 4.9 kg (CI: ±0.02), 5.6 kg (CI: ±0.03), and 5.4 kg (CI: ±0.04), respectively. At 120 d, 62.7% of participants had lost at least 5% of their initial weight. Both genders and all usage frequency tertiles showed statistically significant weight loss from baseline at each interval (P<0.001), and this loss was greater in men than in women (120 d: 6.5 vs. 5.2 kg; P<0.001). The frequency of recording (categorized as high-, medium-, or low-frequency users) was associated with greater weight loss when comparing high, medium, and low tertile use groups at all time intervals investigated (e.g., 120 d: −8.6, −5.6, and −2.2 kg, respectively; P<0.001). Conclusions. People following a commercially available hybrid weight loss program using a mobile application, wireless scale, and nutritional program without face-to-face interaction on average achieved clinically significant short- and midterm weight loss. These results support the implementation of comparable technologies for weight control in a large population.

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