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Clinical Trial
. 2011 Jan 1;5(1):178-87.
doi: 10.1177/193229681100500125.

H.E.A.L.T.H.: efficacy of an internet/population-based behavioral weight management program for the U.S. Army

Tiffany Stewart  1 , Hongmei Han, Raymond H Allen, Gaston Bathalon, Donna H Ryan, Robert L Newton Jr, Donald A Williamson
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

H.E.A.L.T.H.: efficacy of an internet/population-based behavioral weight management program for the U.S. Army

Tiffany Stewart et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. .

Abstract

Background: A significant number of soldiers exceed the maximum allowable weight standards or have body weights approaching the maximum allowable weight standards. This mandates development of scalable approaches to improve compliance with military weight standards.

Methods: We developed an intervention that included two components: (1) an Internet-based weight management program (Web site) and (2) a promotion program designed to promote and sustain usage of the Web site. The Web site remained online for 37 months, with the Web site promotion program ending after 25 months.

Results: Soldiers' demographics were as follows: mean age, 32 years; body mass index (BMI), 28 kg/m²; 31% female; and 58% Caucasian. Civilian demographics were as follows: mean age, 38 years; BMI, 30 kg/m²; 84% female; and 55% Caucasian. Results indicated that 2417 soldiers and 2147 civilians (N = 4564) registered on the Web site. In the first 25 months (phase 1) of the study, new participants enrolled on the Web site at a rate of 88 (soldiers) and 80 (civilians) per month. After the promotion program was removed (phase 2), new participants enrolled at a rate of 18 (soldiers) and 13 (civilians) per month. Utilization of the Web site was associated with self-reported weight loss (p < .0001). Participants who utilized the Web site more frequently lost more weight (p < .0001). Participants reported satisfaction with the Web site.

Conclusions: The Web site and accompanying promotion program, when implemented at a military base, received satisfactory ratings and benefited a subset of participants in promoting weight loss. This justifies further examination of effectiveness in a randomized trial setting.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Weight distribution of participants: soldiers.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Body mass index distribution of participants: civilians.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cumulative graph of participant enrollment over time (soldiers and civilians): phases 1 and 2.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Enrollment of new participants (soldiers and civilians).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Returning participant logins (soldiers and civilians).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Williamson DA, Bathalon GP, Sigrist LD, Allen HR, Friedl KE, Young AJ, Martin CK, Stewart TM, Burrell L, Han H, Hubbard VS, Ryan D. Military services fitness database: development of a computerized physical fitness and weight management database for the U.S. Army. Mil Med. 2009;174(1):1–8. - PMC - PubMed
    1. U.S. Army. The Army Weight Control Program, in Army Regulation 600-9. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 2006.
    1. U.S. Army. Physical Fitness Training, in Army Field Manual 21-20. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 1992.
    1. Subcommittee on Military Weight Management Committee on Military Nutrition Research, Subcommittee on Military Weight Management, Committee on Military Nutrition Research, Institute of Medicine. Weight management: state of the science and opportunities for military programs. Washington DC: National Academies Press; 2004. - PubMed
    1. Stewart T, May S, Allen HR, Bathalon CG, Lavergne G, Sigrist L, Ryan D, Williamson DA. Development of an internet/population-based weight management program for the U.S. Army. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2008;2(1):116–126. - PMC - PubMed

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