Impact of a 16‐week behavioral weight loss program on diet quality

Abstract

BackgroundBehavioral weight loss programs are effective for short‐term weight loss but there is a lack of literature which deals with the impact of these programs on changes in diet quality that they may produce. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI)‐2005 was developed as a summary measure of diet quality by U.S. Department of Agriculture.ObjectiveTo explore changes in participants’ diet quality, as measured by the HEI‐2005, over the course of a 16‐week Internet behavioral weight loss program.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA single‐center randomized controlled trial conducted from August 2008 to December 2008 in Lexington, KY. Sixty‐six women whose mean (SD) age was 48.6 (10.8) years and body mass index was 31.8 (3.7) kg/m2 completed all dietary measures.InterventionsParticipants received two face‐to‐face group sessions with a dietitian, at baseline and 4‐weeks, in addition to 16 weekly behavioral weight loss lessons delivered via an Internet website.Main Outcome MeasuresDietary intake was measured using the 2005 Block food frequency questionnaire.ResultsParticipants showed a significant reduction in energy intake (1854.2±771.7 Vs 1372.9±423.7; p<0.001), and a significant increase in diet quality score as measured by the HEI‐2005 (52.5±10.3 Vs 56.2±10.9; p =0.0016).ConclusionParticipation in an Internet behavioral weight loss program significantly improved diet quality in adult women.Funding Disclosure: Funding for this study was provided by startup funds of the second author.