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Pilot evaluation of an online weight management programme

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2016

S. Cawley
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences and Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (ESHI), Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St., Dublin 8, Ireland
S. Farrell
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences and Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (ESHI), Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St., Dublin 8, Ireland
D.G. Byrne
Affiliation:
GEMS Directorate, St. James's Hospital, James's St., Dublin 8, Ireland
M.J. Turner
Affiliation:
UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Cork St., Dublin 8, Ireland
B. Clune
Affiliation:
DIT Student Health Centre, Dublin Institute of Technology, Aungier Street, Dublin 8, Ireland
D. McCartney
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences and Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (ESHI), Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin St., Dublin 8, Ireland
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Abstract

Type
Abstract
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2016 

While tools such as the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) have been designed to appraise dietary quality, all of these incorporate nutrient intake indices in their scoring systems, necessitating the use of nutrient analysis software(Reference Waijers, Feskens and Ocké1). The Dietary Assessment Tool (DAT) is a practical, food-based index for the assessment of dietary quality which also generates individualised dietary advice for users. This prospective pilot intervention study aimed to establish whether completion of a six-week online programme using the DAT was associated with significant weight loss and waist circumference reduction.

Students and staff of a third level institution (n = 183) were recruited to the online weight management programme. Eighty-five respondents met the minimum inclusion criterion of logging on to the study website at least twice. Thirty-one participants completed the full six-week programme. All participants who completed the programme lost weight (n = 31). Mean weight loss in males (4·2 kg) was greater than that in females (1·9 kg) (P = 0·004).

Table 1. Changes in anthropometric status among those completing a six-week online weight loss programme (n = 31)

Despite high attrition rates, completion of this six-week online weight loss programme was associated with decreases in weight and waist circumference, especially in men.

References

1.Waijers, PM, Feskens, EJ, Ocké, MC (2007) Br J Nutr 97, 219–31.10.1017/S0007114507250421Google Scholar
Figure 0

Table 1. Changes in anthropometric status among those completing a six-week online weight loss programme (n = 31)