The Feasibility of Using Internet Support for the Maintenance of Weight Loss

Abstract

This pilot study examined the acceptability and feasibility of conducting a weight loss maintenance intervention over the Internet. Obese adults participated in a 15-week behavioral weight control intervention and were then randomly assigned to one of the following three maintenance conditions: (a) in-person, therapist-led (TL); (b) Internet, therapist-led (I); and (c) control (C). Both maintenance interventions met biweekly for 22 weeks using the same program content. Results showed that TL participants were more likely to attend their meetings and feel more satisfied with their group assignment. However, there were no differences between the TL and I groups in overall attrition or number of peer support contacts made. There was also no significant difference in weight loss between the groups. Thus, the Internet may hold promise as a method for maintaining contact with patients to facilitate long-term behavior change.