Effects of a Web-based Weight Management Education Program on Various Factors for Overweight and Obese Women: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

Abstract

A diet or exercise method directly mediated by researchers has a good effect on weight loss in the short term but is time-consuming, costly, and difficult to manage. However, Web-based programs can include multiple participants and be easily accessible and cost-effective.

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a web-based weight management program through Web-based education alone (MINE) or combined with tailored video feedback (MINE Plus) with a control (CO) group.

This intervention included 60 overweight and obese (BMI≥23 kg/m2) Korean women aged 19–39 years old. Sixty participants were randomly allocated to each of three groups: (1) the MINE group (Web-based education video and self-monitoring application), (2) the MINE Plus group (Web-based education video, self-monitoring application, and 1:1 tailored video feedback), and (3) the CO group (only self-monitoring application). Web-based education included nutrition, physical activity, psychological factors, medical knowledge for weight loss, goal-setting, and cognitive/behavioral strategies. Tailored video feedback helped to motivate the participants to lose weight and give solutions through real-time video coaching once a week for 10 minutes per session. There was an intervention for 6 weeks and no intervention for the next 6 weeks to check whether the effects of the education continued. A total of three measurements were made at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. A generalized linear mixed model was used to confirm the differences between groups over time and the interaction between time and the groups.

In the intention-to-treat analysis including all 60 participants, there were significant differences in weight change at 6 weeks in the MINE and MINE Plus groups with mean weight changes of -0.74±1.96 kg and -1.87±1.8 kg (P=.034, P <.001), respectively, while no significant change was observed in the CO group with a mean weight change of 0.03±1.68 kg (P=.226). After 12 weeks, changes in body weight were -1.65±2.64 kg in the MINE group, -1.59±2.79 kg in the MINE Plus group, and +0.43±1.42 kg in the CO group. There was a significant difference between the MINE and MINE Plus groups (P <.001). Significant group × time effects were found for body weight in the MINE and CO groups (P <.001) and in the MINE Plus and CO groups (P <.001), comparing baseline and 12 weeks. Regarding physical activity and psychological factors, only body type satisfaction and health self-efficacy were associated with improvements in the MINE and MINE Plus groups (P <.001).

Our Web-based weight management program showed significant weight loss and improvement in several psychological factors in overweight or obese Korean women. Further research is needed to track the long-term effects and confirm the effectiveness of the program through program development.

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA): https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/22861 CRIS Registration Number: KCT0007780