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Interventions and public health nutrition

Changes to dietary intake during a 12-week commercial web-based weight loss program: a randomized controlled trial

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 68, pages 64–70 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

The primary aim of this secondary analysis was to compare changes in dietary intake among participants randomized to two versions of a 12-week commercial web-based weight loss program (basic or enhanced) with a waiting-list control. An additional investigation compared changes in dietary intake of successful participants (weight loss ⩾5%) with those not successful.

Subjects/methods:

Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using a validated 120-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Adults (n=268, 60% female participants, body mass index 32.1±3.9) classified as plausible reporters of energy intake were included in the analyses. Analysis of covariance with baseline observations carried forward for drop-outs (n=38) was used.

Results:

The basic and enhanced groups significantly increased their percentage of energy contribution from fruits and reduced energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods compared with controls (P<0.001). Successful participants (n=49) reported superior improvements in dietary intake including greater reductions in the mean daily energy intake (P<0.001), the percentage of energy from energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods (−12.0% E vs −4.3% E, P<0.001) and greater increases in the energy contribution from fruits (P<0.001), vegetables (P=0.003) and breads/cereals (P=0.02).

Conclusions:

Use of a commercial web-based weight loss program facilitated some improvements in the dietary intake. The enhanced web-based tools appeared not to have generated greater improvements in reported dietary intake, compared with the basic or control groups. Those who achieved a weight loss of ⩾5% improved their dietary intake in line with the program recommendations and dietary guidelines. Further research to determine web-based components that may improve success and the reasons why programs are successful for some participants is required.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the study subjects and research assistants (Julia Martin, Kate Fletcher, Elroy Aguiar, Ashlee Lucas, Rebecca Collins, Trevor Cripps, James Dower, Sharenjit Gill, Jenna Hannan, Skye Huxley, Hannah Mackay, Bryana Melnick, Justin Nicol, Hannah Lucas, Tom Mitchell, Huiru Teoh, Janine Wright and Mei Yap) who helped with data collection; Scott Penn, Anna Crook, Penelope Jones, Julian Barton, Sandra Mitchell and Laura Welsford from SP Health Pty Ltd. Michelle Palmer for reviewing the manuscript. This trial was funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Project grant (2009–2012) (LP0990414, G0189752), with SP Health as the Industry Partner Organization (G0189753). CEC is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Australian Career Development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medcine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    M J Hutchesson, C E Collins & J F Watson

  2. Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    P J Morgan

  3. Occupational Health and Saftey School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    M Guest

  4. Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    R Callister

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  1. M J Hutchesson
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Correspondence to C E Collins.

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Competing interests

CEC has been a nutrition consultant to SP Health Co. MJH received a PhD scholarship supplement from SP Health Co. and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the Penn Foundation Australia. The remaining authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

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Hutchesson, M., Collins, C., Morgan, P. et al. Changes to dietary intake during a 12-week commercial web-based weight loss program: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 68, 64–70 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.194

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