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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 May 1;4(3):723-32.
doi: 10.1177/193229681000400328.

Development of an internet-based obesity prevention program for children

Jeanne M Gabriele  1 , Tiffany M Stewart, Alicia Sample, Allison B Davis, Ray Allen, Corby K Martin, Robert L Newton Jr, Donald A Williamson
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Development of an internet-based obesity prevention program for children

Jeanne M Gabriele et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. .

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing problem, particularly in rural, Louisiana school children. Traditionally, school-based obesity prevention programs have used a primary prevention approach. Finding methods to deliver secondary prevention programs to large numbers of students without singling out overweight students has been a challenge. An innovative approach to achieving this goal is through use of an Internet intervention targeted toward a student's weight status. This article describes the Louisiana (LA) Health Internet intervention, including the student Web site, the Internet counselor Web site, and the Internet counseling process.

Method: The LA Health Internet intervention had separate interfaces for students and Internet counselors. The main features of the student site were behavioral weight loss lessons, lesson activities, chat with an Internet counselor, and email. The Internet counselor site contained these same features, plus a student directory and various means of obtaining student information to guide counseling. Based on their baseline weight status, students received lessons and counseling that promoted either weight loss or weight maintenance. Intervention was delivered during class time, and teachers scheduled Internet counseling sessions with intervention personnel.

Results: The LA Health Internet intervention was initially implemented within 14 schools; 773 students were granted access to the site. From Fall 2007 to Spring 2009, 1174 hours of Internet counselor coverage was needed to implement the Internet counseling component of this intervention

Conclusion: The LA Health Internet intervention is an innovative and feasible method of delivering a secondary prevention program within a school setting to large numbers of students.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00289315.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The LA Health student Web site architecture. IC, Internet counselor.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Student home page.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Student lessons and activities page.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Student quiz question with feedback.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
The LA Health Internet counselor Web site architecture. IC, Internet counselor.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Internet counselor Web page displaying information for students available for chat. Note that this shows a snapshot of a test page. No information from actual students is shown. WL, weight loss condition; WM, weight maintenance condition.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Internet counselor Web page showing chat session for a student along with student information.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Williamson DA, Champagne CM, Han H, Harsha D, Martin CK, Newton RL, Ryan DH, Sothern MS, Stewart TM, Webber LS. Increased obesity in children living in rural communities of Louisiana. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2009;4(3):160–165. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Summerbell CD, Waters E, Edmunds LD, Kelly S, Brown T, Campbell KJ. Interventions for preventing obesity in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;(3):CD001871. - PubMed
    1. Williamson DA, Champagne CM, Harsha D, Han H, Martin CK, Newton R, Jr, Stewart TM, Ryan DH. Louisiana (LA) Health: Design and methods for a childhood obesity prevention program in rural schools. Contemp Clin Trials. 2008;29(4):783–795. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Norman GJ, Zabinski MF, Adams MA, Rosenberg DE, Yaroch AL, Atienza AA. A review of eHealth interventions for physical activity and dietary behavior change. Am J Prev Med. 2007;33(4):336–345. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tate DF, Jackvony EH, Wing RR. Effects of Internet behavioral counseling on weight loss in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2003;289(14):1833–1836. - PubMed

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