The effect of electronic self-monitoring on weight loss and dietary intake: a randomized behavioral weight loss trial.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-01-31
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Technology may improve self monitoring adherence and dietary changes in weight loss treatment Our study aimed to investigate whether using a personal digital assistant PDA with dietary and exercise software with and without a feedback message compared to using a paper diary record PR results in greater weight loss and improved self monitoring adherence Healthy adults N 210 with a mean BMI of 34 01 kg m 2 were randomized to one of three self monitoring approaches PR n 72 PDA with self monitoring software n 68 or PDA with self monitoring software and daily feedback messages PDA FB n 70 All participants received standard behavioral treatment Self monitoring adherence and change in body weight waist circumference and diet were assessed at 6 months retention was 91 All participants had a significant weight loss P Under 0 01 but weight loss did not differ among groups A higher proportion of PDA FB participants 63 achieved 5 weight loss in comparison to the PR group 46 P Under 0 05 and PDA group 49 P 0 09 Median percent self monitoring adherence over the 6 months was higher in the PDA groups PDA 80 PDA FB 90 than in the PR group 55 P Under 0 01 Waist circumference decreased more in the PDA groups than the PR group P 0 02 Similarly the PDA groups reduced energy and saturated fat intake more than the PR group P Under 0 05 Self monitoring adherence was greater in the PDA groups with the greatest weight change observed in the PDA FB group