Abstract
Computer-tailored programs may help to prevent overweight and obesity, which are worldwide public health problems. This study investigated (1) the 12-month effectiveness of a video- and text-based computer-tailored intervention on energy intake, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI), and (2) the role of educational level in intervention effects. A randomized controlled trial in The Netherlands was conducted, in which adults were allocated to a video-based condition, text-based condition, or control condition, with baseline, 6 months, and 12 months follow-up. Outcome variables were self-reported BMI, physical activity, and energy intake. Mixed-effects modelling was used to investigate intervention effects and potential interaction effects. Compared to the control group, the video intervention group was effective regarding energy intake after 6 months (least squares means (LSM) difference = −205.40, p = 0.00) and 12 months (LSM difference = −128.14, p = 0.03). Only video intervention resulted in lower average daily energy intake after one year (d = 0.12). Educational role and BMI did not seem to interact with this effect. No intervention effects on BMI and physical activity were found. The video computer-tailored intervention was effective on energy intake after one year. This effect was not dependent on educational levels or BMI categories, suggesting that video tailoring can be effective for a broad range of risk groups and may be preferred over text tailoring.
Highlights
Worldwide, overweight and obesity are among the most important public health challenges, with obesity rates having doubled since 1980 [1]
The video version delivered most of the educational content via videos with actors providing the tailored information, which was identical to the information that was delivered via text in the text version
The effect of the video intervention did not vary across educational roles and body mass index (BMI), indicating that this intervention may be valuable to make small changes in energy intake among participants with lower as well as higher educational levels, and lower as well as higher BMI categories
Summary
Overweight and obesity are among the most important public health challenges, with obesity rates having doubled since 1980 [1]. This is reflected by the body mass index (BMI), commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults [2]. In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults (i.e., 18 years and older) were overweight (i.e., BMI greater than or equal to 25), from which 600 million. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1275; doi:10.3390/ijerph14101275 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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