Online platform for healthy weight loss in adults with overweight and obesity - the “POEmaS” project: a randomized controlled trial

Obesity and subsequent ill health have reached epidemic proportions in developed countries, and many developing countries are on the same trajectory. Weight loss and sustaining a healthy weight have posed a significant challenge for individuals, patients, health-care providers, and public health experts. The literature suggests that dietary advice and lifestyle changes alone have limited sustainable impact for those who are seeking to achieve a healthy weight. Supplementary techniques to control weight, such as acupuncture and auricular acupuncture (AA), have shown mixed results and failed to clearly demonstrate a conclusive impact. This study aimed to provide clarity about the impact of AA on weight loss via a randomized controlled trial. Data were collected from patients to identify measurable girth reduction, weight loss, dietary choices, and mood changes over seven weekly sessions of AA (n = 30) versus sham needle as control (n = 28). Results demonstrated a large and highly significant AA treatment effect for reduced waist circumference over the course of the seven-week intervention. While the treatment effect for weight loss and BMI was not significant, this negative result may have been mediated by the relatively short duration of the study. Results also demonstrated a significant mood improvement across participants in both the AA intervention and control group as the intervention progressed. Further studies are required to determine if the reduction in waist circumference is driven specifically by the AA alone or in conjunction with improved mood. The results also have potentially significant implications for healthcare delivery in the fight against overweight and obesity.

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Habit-based interventions for weight loss maintenance in adults with overweight and obesity: a randomized controlled trial

International Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1038/s41366-018-0067-4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 374-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Gina Cleo ◽

Paul Glasziou ◽

Elaine Beller ◽

Elisabeth Isenring ◽

Rae Thomas

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Weight Loss Maintenance ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Randomized Controlled

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High and Low Responders in a Comprehensive Lifestyle Program for Weight Loss - Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Complementary Medicine Research ◽

10.1159/000475663 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 232-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dieter Melchart ◽

Erich Wühr ◽

Wolfgang Weidenhammer

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Weight Reduction ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

High Response ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Lifestyle Program

Background/Objectives: Unhealthy lifestyle is often related to overweight and obesity and thus to chronic diseases. Web-based programs might be an option for a comprehensive approach to improving long-term weight management. Data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the impact of a lifestyle program on weight reduction were used for a secondary analysis. The objectives were (a) to identify potential predictors for marked weight loss, (b) to explore associations of weight reduction with changes in health-related variables, and (c) to evaluate whether self-monitoring of the daily lifestyle is associated with weight loss. Methods: 67 subjects with a body mass index of 28-35 who underwent the 1-year ‘Individual Health Management' (IHM) program were included in the analysis (mean age 49.8 years, 79% female). Two subgroups (high response: ≥7.5% weight reduction vs. low response: <7.5%) were compared in terms of sociodemographic data, baseline values, and pre-post changes of various risk and protective factors. A logistic regression was performed to identify potential predictors of weight loss. Results: 70% of the subjects fulfilled the criterion of high response. There were no statistically significant differences between the two subgroups with respect to sociodemographic and baseline data. Regression analysis failed to identify any predictors for the amount of weight reduction. Subjects with high response showed a more distinct improvement in life satisfaction and neurovegetative stability. The findings indicated an association between the level of self-monitoring and weight loss. Conclusions: More research is needed to establish optimal strategies for maximizing the longer-term maintenance of weight loss and prevention effects. For weight reduction, support strategies like feedback learning through self-monitoring, reporting systems, and self-performance measurement with questionnaires might ameliorate high-intensity lifestyle modification programs.

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A Self-Directed Mobile Intervention (WaznApp) to Promote Weight Control Among Employees at a Lebanese University: Protocol for a Feasibility Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9793 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Bardus ◽

Ghassan Hamadeh ◽

Bouchra Hayek ◽

Rawan Al Kherfan

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Weight Management ◽

Weight Control ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Obesity And Overweight ◽

And Control

BACKGROUND Overweight and obesity have become major health problems globally with more than 1.9 billion overweight adults. In Lebanon, the prevalence of obesity and overweight is 65.4% combined. Risk factors of obesity and overweight are preventable and can be addressed by modifications in the environment and in an individual’s lifestyle. Mobile technologies are increasingly used in behavioral, self-directed weight management interventions, providing users with additional opportunities to attain weight control (weight loss, weight gain prevention, etc). Mobile apps may allow for the delivery of Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs), which provide support through skill building, emotional support, and instrumental support, following the participants’ progress. A few commercially available apps offer JITAI features, but no studies have tested their efficacy. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study is to examine the feasibility of a self-directed weight loss intervention, targeting employees of an academic institution, using a virtual coaching app with JITAI features (Lark) and a self-help calorie-counting app (MyFitnessPal). The secondary objective is to estimate the effects of the intervention on main study outcomes. METHODS This study is a single-center, parallel, randomized controlled trial with 2 study arms (intervention and control). Participants will be randomly allocated in equal proportions to the intervention (Lark) and control groups (MyFitnessPal). To be eligible for this study, participants must be employed full- or part-time at the university or its medical center, able to read English, have a smartphone, and be interested in controlling their weight. Recruitment strategies entail email invitations, printed posters, and social media postings. We will assess quantitative rates of recruitment, adherence, and retention, self-reported app quality using the user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale. We will also assess changes in weight-related outcomes (absolute weight and waist circumference), behavioral outcomes (physical activity and diet), and cognitive factors (motivation to participate in the trial and to manage weight). RESULTS WaznApp was funded in June 2017, and recruitment started in March 2018. CONCLUSIONS This study will provide information as to whether the selected mobile apps offer a feasible solution for promoting weight management in an academic workplace. The results will inform a larger trial whose results might be replicated in similar workplaces in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa region, and will be used as a benchmark for further investigations in other settings and similar target groups. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03321331; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03321331 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ys9NOLo5) REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER RR1-10.2196/9793

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