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"Internet Dieting" Helps Consumers Lose Weight And Prevent Disease

Research Published in JAMA Shows "Internet Dieting" Can Be Effective

ATLANTA (May 16, 2003) - With almost 65 percent of the country overweight and 30 percent obese, many individuals are looking for ways to shed pounds. Losing weight is a daunting task with many able to lose weight initially, but unable to keep losing or keep it off. However, a recent study by researchers at the Brown University Medical School and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that online, Internet-based weight loss programs can help people lose weight, including those at risk of developing diabetes.

Although "face to face" individual counseling can also be effective in helping people reduce weight, it may not be practical for everyone. "The advantage of online dieting is that it offers convenience and complete privacy," says John Foreyt, a leading obesity researcher with Baylor College of Medicine and Scientific Advisory Board Member for CaloriesCount.com - a Web site dedicated to teaching and helping consumers achieve and maintain a healthy weight for life. He added, "Convenience and privacy are very appealing aspects to many people. Consumers with full-time jobs, families, and a busy schedule in general may not be able to find the time to attend weight-loss support meetings. Online programs offer individuals the ability to get the information and personalized tools they need 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Other studies have shown that online dieting can be effective, but this new JAMA study specifically evaluated the effectiveness of "online dieting" over a long-term period of one year. Researchers studied 92 overweight men and women with an average age of 48 and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 33. (A BMI of 30 and over is considered obese.) Researchers found that after a 12-month period, those in an Internet weight loss program coupled with email counseling lost an average of 10 pounds (a five percent loss of their initial body weight, which scientists have found can have dramatic effect on a person's overall health - including their risk of developing diseases such as Type 2 diabetes).

"This study lends further credibility and support to Internet dieting - especially when people have access to expert support. However, consumers should be wary, as not all online weight loss programs 'are created equal'," notes Foreyt. He recommends that consumers use the following "10 Point Checklist" when looking for an online weight loss program.

10 Point Checklist for a Responsible Online Weight-Loss Program:

• Should not promise or guarantee a specific weight loss in a predetermined time-frame (such as, "Lose 20 lbs. in four weeks!")
• Should not contain advertisements for various food products (or brand names in the meal plans)
• Should not sell mailing lists or other information to third-party vendors
• Should not require members to purchase certain weight loss products or supplements
• Should promote healthy eating and exercise habits that can be maintained long-term
• Should offer access and support from qualified dietitians or other health professionals
• Should incorporate exercise
• Should prominently display the "Terms & Conditions" of the site
• Should follow the guidelines of the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management (a coalition of government agencies and health groups dedicated to providing sound guidance on strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight; visit http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss for more information)
• Should provide guidelines which designate the inappropriateness of the site for certain populations (such as children, pregnant or breastfeeding women)

CaloriesCount.com, whose motto is "Healthy Eating and Exercise for Life," is dedicated to teaching and helping consumers achieve and maintain a healthy weight for life. The CaloriesCount program, which is non-profit and non-commercial, emphasizes the importance of losing weight gradually and adopting healthy eating and exercise habits that can be maintained long-term. The site offers a free Diet Assessment Calculator and information on weight management updated weekly. Also, for a small fee to cover costs, individuals may join to be able to access expert support and advanced tools including personal online food diaries and customized meal plans.

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To arrange an interview with Dr. John Foreyt, please call Beth Hubrich, R.D., at 404-252-3663.

CaloriesCount.com is sponsored by the Calorie Control Council, a non-profit trade association established in 1966. Since its inception, the Council has fostered communication among a wide variety of audiences about the importance of "sensible dieting" - controlling calories, increasing physical activity and making permanent changes in eating and exercise habits. The Council has served as a respected and credible information source about healthy lifestyles, weight management and obesity issues for many years.

Copyright © 2007 Calorie Control Council

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