August 10, 2010 – Registering for a website specializing in weight maintenance could help people who have lost weight not to regain the pounds lost, reveals an American study1.
For the purpose of their study, the researchers designed a website on weight management. The people recruited could record their weight and calories consumed there, participate in a discussion forum with experts, target their objectives, obtain information on health and diet, and benefit from personalized follow-up.
The 348 participants in this study had previously lost an average of 9 kilos (19 pounds) and were undergoing treatment for hypertension or high cholesterol.
According to the results, people who visited the site at least once a month (61% of participants) were the ones who gained the least weight, or around 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds). Participants who only used it once a year or less had gained 6 and 7 kilograms (14 and 16 pounds) respectively by the end of the study, which lasted nearly two and a half years.
The researchers point out that after 28 months of use, 65% of participants were still viewing the site, a satisfactory participation rate compared to other similar studies. According to them, the type of website they have created offers a reliable and inexpensive solution for monitoring in order to maintain the lost weight, without however going beyond the monthly meetings with specialists.
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Choose the right website Knowing that there are a large number of websites aimed at losing or maintaining weight, the authors of the study suggest some recommendations for an informed choice. The site must:
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Nathalie Vigneault – PasseportSanté.net
1. Funk KL, Stevens VJ, et al., Associations of internet website use with weight change in a long-term weight loss maintenance program, J Med Internet Res. 2010 Jul 27; 12 (3): e29.
