Transitioning a Sustainable Weight Management Program to Virtual Platform for Greater Accessibility

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Vol. 30; pp. 45 - 46
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Ashleigh, Lee, Mindy, Shaffer, Annabelle, Alfouzan, Nouf, Yu, Jin, Lewis, Gayle, Waseem, Areebah, Parker, Vanesssa, Zajac, Chelsie, Kosinski, Michael, Ades, Lindsey, Payne, Gregory, Mahajan, Pranav, Rana, Muhammad Umair, Khalil, Muhammad Hasib, Hsu, Jennie, Wiarda, Karen, Nakamura, Manabu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Silver Spring Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2022
• Subjects: Diet; Empowerment; Proteins; Weight control
• ISSN: 1930-7381; 1930-739X

Background: Obesity is a leading public health issue in the United States with 70.2% of adults having either an obese or overweight body mass index (BMI>25). We developed a novel weight management program, the Individualized Diet Improvement Program (iDip) focused on achieving sustainable diet changes. iDip was offered as in-person sessions at the University of Illinois (UIUC) campus. This limitation in time and location was a barrier for workers and residents in distant locations. The objective of the project was to improve accessibility by 1) developing online version of iDip and 2) testing its efficacy. Methods: The revised program, EMPOWER, has two components: online-session materials and a mobile app. The eText platform developed by CITL, UIUC was used for session materials. Zoom meeting was used for interactions with clients after a session. A mobile app, MealPlot, was developed using a multi-OS platform in collaboration with Applied Research Institute, College of Engineering, UIUC. 40 participants were recruited from Carle clinics and screened; 32 were eligible and enrolled, and 30 have completed 6-months of the 24-month intervention to date. Primary outcome measures include weight and anthropometrics taken at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. Results: Nineteen in-class sessions were converted to online with video, text, and activities inserted between modules. All session materials were revised to 6th grade level and non-dietary obstacles were added into session material. A Protein Fiber (PF) plot and weight tracking tool was incorporated into MealPlot. MealPlot users can check protein and fiber density of foods, complete 24-hour diet records, and view their weight progress via custom weight chart. The plotting of foods helps users with food selection, displaying a spatial presentation of quantitative values of protein and fiber per calorie. The EMPOWER trial began in June of 2021 and at the 6-month mark has shown at least as effective as the previous in-person cohort. Mean weight changes of participants at 6 months are -6.7 ± 5.9 kg (-6.6 ± 5.8% of initial body weight) in EMPOWER (n = 30) and -5.9 ± 6.3 kg (-5.7 ± 6.3% of initial body weight) in iDip (n=22). Conclusions: We achieved a successful transition of an in-person weight loss program to the online platform. The EMPOWER program was as effective as iDip in weight loss at 6 months.