Web-based Weight Research Articles

Web-Based Weight Management Programs for Children and Adolescents

More than 17% of children aged 6 to 19 years living in the United States are classified as overweight. Medical costs related to overweight and obesity were recently estimated to approximate $100 billion annually. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide the scientific evidence regarding Web-based weight management programs for overweight children and adolescents. Results suggest the potential for Web-based behavioral change programs for weight management in overweight children and adolescents. Future research should emphasize rigorous methodological adequacies, develop theory-based standardized frameworks, investigate types of interventions appropriate for boys and girls in this age group, evaluate long-term effect of interventions, and examine cost as well as clinical effectiveness.

An improved algorithm for weighting keywords in web documents

In this paper, an improved algorithm, web-based keyword weight algorithm (WKWA), is presented to weight keywords in web documents. WKWA takes into account representation features of web documents and advantages of the TF*IDF, TFC and ITC algorithms in order to make it more appropriate for web documents. Meanwhile, the presented algorithm is applied to improved vector space model (IVSM). A real system has been implemented for calculating semantic similarities of web documents. Four experiments have been carried out. They are keyword weight calculation, feature item selection, semantic similarity calculation, and WKWA time performance. The results demonstrate accuracy of keyword weight, and semantic similarity is improved.

Effectiveness of Web-based interventions in Achieving Weight Loss and Maintenance in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Systematic Review.

Review Question/Objective The primary objective of this review is to identify the effectiveness of web-based interventions on weight loss and maintenance. The second objective is to identify the effectiveness of web-based interventions on behaviours associated with weight loss (eating and physical activity). The third objective is to identify what components of web-based interventions are associated with greater weight loss and maintenance, as well as lower attrition rates. Criteria for Inclusion Types of participants The quantitative component of this review will consider studies that include overweight and/or obese adults, aged greater than 18 years. Overweight and obesity will be defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 25(kg/m2). Types of intervention(s) The quantitative component of the review will consider studies that evaluate web-based interventions with the primary aim of achieving weight loss or weight maintenance following weight loss. This includes studies with the aim of achieving positive dietary and physical activity behaviour change for participants that include overweight/obesity outcome measures. However, if the stated aim is to achieve positive dietary and physical activity behaviour change for participants, and they do not include overweight/obesity outcome measures they will be excluded. At least one arm of the study must include a web-based intervention. A web-based intervention will be based around a website that participants receive information from and directly interface with. They are not required to input information into the website for the intervention to be included. Types of outcomes This review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures: Primary Outcome: Overweight/obesity related outcomes: weight (kg), % body weight lost, BMI, waist measurements, % body fat, % lost 5% of body weight. Secondary Outcomes: Dietary behaviours: energy intake, core food group intake (e.g. number of serves of fruit per day), macronutrient composition of diet (e.g. fat intake per day) Physical activity behaviours: energy expenditure, time spent in activity, steps per day. Effect modifiers/confounders: Compliance/engagement with website: website logins, completion of self-monitoring diaries, attendance at meetings/group discussions, retention etc Adjuncts to web-based intervention (e.g. contact with professional/face to face contact, other eHealth technology such as SMS, email, CD-Rom, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and use of rewards/prizes) Intervention based on theoretical models Intensity of web-based intervention: type and number of features included (e.g. self-monitoring diary, chat room, discussion board)

The Recent Evolution of News Organizations Toward Web-based Healthful Eating and Weight Management Tools

Historically, newspapers, magazines, and television have been the most accessible sources of health-related news and information for the general public. Increasingly, individuals are using the Internet to search out this information. In recent years, newspapers, magazines, and television outlets launched Web sites containing health news and information as well as interactive features. The International Food Information Council Foundation, through its biennial snapshot of major news outlets (Food for Thought), has monitored food, nutrition, and health news coverage since 1995. In order to better understand the extent and nature of the information and features offered on these Web sites, a limited survey of news outlets covered by Food for Thought was conducted. The scope of this survey was limited to obesityrelated news and information, since this was the number one covered topic in the most recent Food For Thought VI survey conducted in 2005. METHODS

Web‐based Weight Management Programs in an Integrated Health Care Setting: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

To assess the efficacy of a Web-based tailored behavioral weight management program compared with Web-based information-only weight management materials. Participants, 2862 eligible overweight and obese (BMI = 27 to 40 kg/m2) members from four regions of Kaiser Permanente's integrated health care delivery system, were randomized to receive either a tailored expert system or information-only Web-based weight management materials. Weight change and program satisfaction were assessed by self-report through an Internet-based survey at 3- and 6-month follow-up periods. Significantly greater weight loss at follow-up was found among participants assigned to the tailored expert system than among those assigned to the information-only condition. Subjects in the tailored expert system lost a mean of 3 +/- 0.3% of their baseline weight, whereas subjects in the information-only condition lost a mean of 1.2 +/- 0.4% (p < 0.0004). Participants were also more likely to report that the tailored expert system was personally relevant, helpful, and easy to understand. Notably, 36% of enrollees were African-American, with enrollment rates higher than the general proportion of African Americans in any of the study regions. The results of this large, randomized control trial show the potential benefit of the Web-based tailored expert system for weight management compared with a Web-based information-only weight management program.