Older Members Perform Better in an Internet-based Behavioral Weight Loss Program Compared to Younger Members

Overview

Journal Obes Facts

Publisher Karger

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2010 Jan 8

PMID 20054209

Citations 12

Authors

Marianne van der Mark

Josefine Jonasson

Madeleine Svensson

Yvonne Linne

Stephan Rossner

Ylva Trolle Lagerros

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: New technology offers increased opportunities for weight control. However, it is not clear whether older people with less computer training can make use of this tool. Our objective was to examine how members above the age of 65 years performed in an internet-based behavioral weight loss program, compared to younger members.

Methods: Data from members (n = 23,233) of an internet-based behavioral weight loss program were analyzed. We restricted our study to active participants accessing the weight club, during a 6-month period (n = 4,440). The number of logins, food intake, and weight records were examined. Participants were divided into age tertiles separately for men and women. The oldest tertile was further subdivided into two groups: above and below the age of 65 years.

Results: Participants aged 65 or older were more likely to remain active in the weight club for at least 6 months compared to younger age groups. They had the highest frequency of recordings of food intake and current weight. Among women, those older than 65 years had on average the highest percentage of weight loss (5.6 kg, 6.8%). Men above 65 years of age had the highest number of logins, on average 161 times during the 6-month period.

Conclusion: Older participants are performing equally well or even better in an internet-based behavioral weight loss program than younger participants. Internet-based programs could be a promising and attractive option for older adults requiring assistance in losing weight.

Citing Articles

Digital Technologies for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Older People: Scoping Review.

De Santis K, Mergenthal L, Christianson L, Busskamp A, Vonstein C, Zeeb H J Med Internet Res. 2023; 25:e43542.

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Clinical Outcomes Among Working Adults Using the Health Integrator Smartphone App: Analyses of Prespecified Secondary Outcomes in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Bonn S, Licitra G, Bellocco R, Trolle Lagerros Y J Med Internet Res. 2022; 24(3):e24725.

PMID: 35311677 PMC: 8946520. DOI: 10.2196/24725.

Testing a breast cancer prevention and a multiple disease prevention weight loss programme amongst women within the UK NHS breast screening programme-a randomised feasibility study.

Harvie M, French D, Pegington M, Cooper G, Howell A, McDiarmid S Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2021; 7(1):220.

PMID: 34930478 PMC: 8690875. DOI: 10.1186/s40814-021-00947-4.

Usability Evaluation for the Amulet Wearable Device in Rural Older Adults with Obesity.

Batsis J, Zagaria A, Kotz D, Bartels S, Boateng G, Proctor P Gerontechnology. 2019; 17(3):151-159.

PMID: 30631251 PMC: 6322690. DOI: 10.4017/gt.2018.17.3.003.00.

What Matters in Weight Loss? An In-Depth Analysis of Self-Monitoring.

Painter S, Ahmed R, Hill J, Kushner R, Lindquist R, Brunning S J Med Internet Res. 2017; 19(5):e160.

PMID: 28500022 PMC: 5446667. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7457.

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