Effects of a general practice guided web-based weight reduction program - results of a cluster-randomized controlled trial

BMC Family Practice

Research Article

Jasper Blome¹  Florian Frensch¹  Stefan Wagenpfeil²  Klaus Linde³  Max Haag³  Antonius Schneider³  Michael Mehring³ 

[1] HausMed eHealth Services GmbH, Schlesische Str. 29/30 L, 10997, Berlin, Germany;Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology und Medical Informatics (IMBEI), Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany;Institute of General Practice, Technische Universität München, Orleansstr. 47, 81667, Munich, Germany;

关键词: Overweight;    Obesity;    Weight loss;    Web-based;    Randomized controlled trial;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2296-14-76

 received in 2012-07-27, accepted in 2013-06-03,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPreliminary findings suggest that web-based interventions may be effective in achieving significant weight loss and weight loss maintenance. To date only few findings within primary care patients and especially the involvement of general practitioners are available. The aim of this trial was to examine the short-term effectiveness of a web-based coaching program in combination with an accompanied telephone counselling regarding weight reduction in a primary care setting.MethodsThe study was a cluster-randomized trial with an observation period of 12 weeks. Individuals recruited by general practitioners randomized to the intervention group participated in a web-based coaching program based on education, motivation, exercise guidance, daily SMS reminding, weekly feedback through internet and active monitoring by general practitioners. Participants in the control group received usual care and advice from their practitioner without the web-based coaching program. The main outcome was weight change between admission and after 12 weeks.Results186 participants (109 intervention group, 77 control group) were recruited into study. For 76 participants from the intervention group and 72 participants from the control group weight measurements were available both at baseline and 12 weeks. Weight decreased on average by 4.2 kg in the intervention group and 1.7 kg in the control group (mean group difference 2.5 kg; 95%CI 1,1; 3,8; p < 0.001). Reductions for waist circumference and BMI were also significantly larger within intervention.ConclusionFindings of the present trial suggest that the tested web-based coaching program for weight loss is effective in short-term. Further RCT’s are desirable in order to confirm present findings in larger populations and to investigate long-term outcomes.Trial registrationGerman Register for Clinical Trials: DRKS00003067

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Mehring et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013