10
Review
behavioral counseling, not the
frequency, was the defining
characteristic between the two
interventions.
At the conclusion of two years,
the weight change from baseline was
1.1 percent in the control group, 5
percent in the group receiving
remote support, and 5.2 percent in
the group receiving in person
Bariatric Times • January 2014
treatment. These results
demonstrate that remote behavioral
counseling can be just as effective as
face-to-face counseling in achieving
clinically significant weight losses.
Internet behavioral counseling was
also compared to standard internet
treatment. All participants were
asked to submit their weight and
food records via a web-based diary.
E-mail reminders were submitted
weekly for the entire 12 months of
the study. The behavioral counseling
group received feedback on their
food records, reinforcement for
identified behaviors and
recommendations for change, while
the standard group received no such
treatment. At 12 months, the
addition of e-counseling doubled the
READER HANDOUT: Cut, copy, and distribute.
FOOD TRACKING APPS/WEBSITES
• MyFitnessPal or
www.myfitnesspal.com
• Lose It! or www.loseit.com
• Diet & Food Tracker – Spark People or
• MyNetDiary or www.mynetdiary.com
www.sparkactivitytracker.com
• ControlMyWeight by Calorie King or
• Tap & Track – Calorie Counter or
www.calorieking.com
• Calorie Tracker by Livestrong or
www.livestrong.com/myplate
• Diet Assistant – Weight Loss or
www.dietassistantapp.com
percentage of initial weight loss from
2.2 to 4.8 percent.25
The paradigm of remote
counseling with reinforcement has
far-reaching implications. Consider
the patient's reduced burden from
missing time from work, finding and
paying for a parking space, and cost
of commuting.
SUMMARY
Providers need strategies to
increase weight loss momentum in
their patients. This is especially true
before bariatric surgery and at the
conclusion of the "honeymoon
phase." While more studies are
needed to confirm its effectiveness,
electronic tracking and remote
counseling incorporated into a
standard practice shows promise in
augmenting weight losses.
REFERENCES
1.
www.tapandtrack.com
• Fit Day or www.fitday.com
• iAwaken
• www.fitwatch.com
2.
• www.my-caloriecounter.com
3.
REMOTE MEETING PLATFORMS
NOTES:
• http://www.skype.com
4.
• http://www.gotomeeting.com
• http://www.join.me
• http://www.meetingburner.com
• http://webex.com
• http://meetin.gs
5.
EMERGING COMPANIES USING
REMOTE BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING
• Retrofitme.com
6.
• Vtrimonline.com
7.
8.
9.
Disclaimer: This handout represents a selection of services available at the time of publication and is
not a complete list. Bariatric Times did not review or rate any of these services nor accept funding for
advertising.
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