Comparison of a phone vs clinic approach to achieve 10% weight loss

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity Vol. 31; no. 8; pp. 1270 - 1276
• Main Authors: Donnelly, J.E, Smith, B.K, Dunn, L, Mayo, M.M, Jacobsen, D.J, Stewart, E.E, Gibson, C, Sullivan, D.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01-08-2007; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; communications technology; Complications and side effects; diet counseling; diet therapy; epidemiological studies; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health aspects; health services; Humans; Interviews as Topic - methods; long term effects; longitudinal studies; Management; medical facilities; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; methodology; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - prevention & control; Obesity - therapy; overweight; randomized clinical trials; remission; telemedicine; Treatment Outcome; Vegetables; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; weight control programs; Weight Loss; United States; Physical exercise; Obesity; Nutrition; Telephone; Anthropometry; Body weight; Nutrition disorder; Weight loss; Meal; weight management; Metabolic diseases; exercise; Corporal biometry; Feeding; Clinic; meal replacements; Physician patient relation; Diet; Public health; Nutritional status; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803568

Objective: To compare the efficacy of a phone vs a traditional face-to-face clinic approach to achieve 10% weight loss and weight maintenance. Design: Twenty-six week, randomized, controlled trial. Subjects: Twenty-four men and 72 women, ages 25-68 years, with a body mass index (BMI) of 33.2 +/- 3.8. Measurements: Weight loss at 12 weeks and weight maintenance at 26 weeks were the primary outcomes. Attendance, meal replacements (MRs), fruits/vegetables (F/V), and physical activity (PA) were measured weekly for process evaluation. Results: Median weight loss (range) from baseline at 12 weeks was significantly different for phone at 10.6 kg (16.6) or 10.4% and clinic at 12.7 kg (19.9) or 13.7%, and both were significantly different when compared with the control group with a weight loss of 0.25 kg (5.6) or 0.24%. Median weight loss at 26 weeks was 12.8 kg (23.4) or 13.0% from baseline for the phone group and 12.5 kg (35.2) or 12.6% from baseline for the clinic group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The median weight loss for both phone and clinic groups at 12 and 26 weeks exceeded the NHLBI guideline of 10% weight loss from baseline. The phone approach may be a viable option to the traditional weight management clinic for both service providers and participants.