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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #297090
Title: Multi-component access to a commercially available weight loss program: A randomized controlled trial

Author
item JOHNSTON, CRAIG - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item ROST, STEPHANIE - Weight Watchers International, Inc
item MILLER-KOVACH, KAREN - Weight Watchers International, Inc
item MORENO, JENNETTE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item FOREYT, JOHN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2012
Publication Date: 4/21/2013
Citation: Johnston, C.A., Rost, S., Miller-Kovach, K., Moreno, J.P., Foreyt, J.P. 2013. Multi-component access to a commercially available weight loss program: A randomized controlled trial [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 27:851.2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This study examined weight loss between a community-based, intensive behavioral counseling program (Weight Watchers PointsPlus that included three treatment access modes and a self-help condition. A total of 292 participants were randomized to a Weight Watchers (WW; n=147) or a self-help condition (SH; n=145). WW participants were provided with three ways to access the treatment: weekly meetings, WW mobile application, and WW online tools. Heights and weights were obtained at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. Self-report of access routes used was collected at 3 and 6 months. Data were available for 248 subjects at 24 weeks (85.0% retention). A significant interaction of time and condition for BMI (F=36.7, p<.001) was found, indicating that WW participants significantly decreased their BMI at 6 months compared to SH participants. Mean weight loss for the WW and SH groups was 10.1 +/- 11.7 lbs and 1.3 +/- 8.1 lbs respectively. WW participants were 8.0 (95% CI, 3.9–6.2) times more likely to achieve a 5% baseline weight loss at 6 months than SH participants (p<.001). The use of the treatment access modes was also examined. Those using all three access routes to a high degree had the greatest weight loss (p<.001). This community-based program produced clinically significant weight loss. Participants that used all treatment access modes were the most successful in the program.