Background: Multi-modal weight loss approaches, involving a variety of delivery methods (eg. face-to-face, internet-based, group education), may be more effective in supporting behavioural change than unimodal weight loss approaches.
Aim: To determine the effectiveness of a 10-week multi-modal weight loss program designed to promote behaviour change and reduce weight in overweight/obese adults.
Method: The program involved 3 face-to-face sessions and weekly online education. Participants were encouraged to attend visits at baseline, 3, 6, and 10 weeks for weight measurements. Self-reported assessments of behavioural change were assessed from a lifestyle questionnaire administered pre- and post-intervention. A behavioural change score was calculated from questions relating to physical activity, TV viewing time, breakfast consumption and fruit/vegetable intake.
Results: Twenty-four participants enrolled in the program [Age= 51 ±yrs, BMI= 34 ± 7.8. The participants who completed the program (attended face-to-face group sessions at weeks 1 and 10 and received weekly online education) lost 3.4 ± 6.3 kg from baseline (P=0.002). An intention-to-treat analysis, which assumed that the non-completers weight remained unchanged from baseline, revealed a 2.1kg ± weight loss from baseline (P=0.004). Although the program was successful in reducing weight, self-reported behavioural change scores did not change significantly from baseline.
Post hoc analyses revealed that the mean age of completers (72 ± 4.23) was significantly higher than non-completers (56 ± 2.91; P=0.02) and completers were more likely to have diabetes (42%).
Conclusion: These results suggest that a multi-modal weight loss program was successful in reducing weight in older, overweight adults. This study also found that the ‘completers’ were older and more likely to have diabetes, suggesting that they may be more health aware or may have more time to attend sessions. Future research should target weight loss for primary prevention and strategies to enhance compliance in a younger or ‘at risk’ population.