A new study from Shape-Up, jointly authored by several university researchers, shows how adding online tracking tools, feedback and educational content to a weight-loss effort substantially increases results. Because traditional weight-loss programs are expensive to administer, researchers also studied the effects of online only behavioral interventions.
Researchers concluded that an Internet-based behavioral program alone was the more cost-effective method to enhance weight loss.
The researchers analyzed the weight loss outcomes of 230 ShapeUp participants in a three-month, team-based fitness competition. Specifically, they found that adding evidence-based online behavioral interventions combined with optional in-person group sessions led to an average weight loss of 6.1 percent of total body weight and increased the number of participants who lost a clinically significant portion (5%) of their body weight eight–fold – from 6.5 percent to 54.3 percent. Perhaps most notably, among participants who received only the online behavioral interventions, the average weight loss was 4.2 percent of total body weight, and the number who achieved clinically significant weight loss increased six-fold from 6.5 percent to 42.2 percent.
Read more of Kathy Crosett‘s report here.
In many ways,very helpful, nice post.