Utilization patterns and user characteristics of an ad libitum Internet weight loss program

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Obesity Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• The internet offers potential for delivering evidence-based weight loss treatments to underserved populations.
• Research on direct-to-consumer, ad libitum (freely at will) online weight loss programs is limited.
• Most studies involve direct participant contact and restrictive criteria, unlike natural internet use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine user characteristics, behaviors, and internet site utilization patterns.
• To analyze data from a free, evidence-based, direct-to-consumer online weight loss program.
• To understand how users engage with online weight loss tools and resources.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of archival data from the first 15 weeks of the Healthy Weight Center program.
• Inclusion of self-reported user characteristics (age, BMI, gender) and tracked utilization data.
• Statistical analysis including Pearson correlations and one-way ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Data from 204 overweight or obese adults (mean age 42.0, 81.9% women, mean BMI 32.01).
• Low utilization rates for specific tools (e.g., meal planner 13.7%, activity log 17.6%) and educational resources (nutrition 13.2%, fitness 6.4%).
• High engagement with personal self-assessments (barriers 57.8%, relationship with food 50.5%), but low use of support boards (7.8%). No significant associations found between utilization and age, gender, or BMI.

Conclusions:

• Online weight loss programs effectively reach individuals unable to access traditional treatments.
• Users may not be optimally engaging with crucial intervention components like education, monitoring, and support.
• Findings offer insights into ad libitum online weight loss program usage in a naturalistic setting.