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Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Adding evidence-based behavioral weight loss strategies to a statewide wellness campaign: a randomized clinical trial
Tricia M Leahey1, Graham Thomas, Joseph L Fava
1Tricia M. Leahey, Graham Thomas, and Rena R. Wing are with Alpert Medical School of Brown University Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Providence, RI. Joseph L. Fava and Katie Krupel are with The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Providence. Leslee L. Subak is with the University of California San Francisco, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, San Francisco, CA. Michael Schembri is with University of California San Francisco, Women's Health Clinical Research Center, San Francisco. Rajiv Kumar is with ShapeUp Inc, Providence. Brad Weinberg is with Blueprint Health Inc, New York, NY.
Objectives:
We determined the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of adding an evidence-based Internet behavioral weight loss intervention alone or combined with optional group sessions to ShapeUp Rhode Island 2011 (SURI), a 3-month statewide wellness campaign.
Methods:
We randomized participants (n = 230; body mass index = 34.3 ±6.8 kg/m(2); 84% female) to the standard SURI program (S) or to 1 of 2 enhanced programs: SURI plus Internet behavioral program (SI) or SI plus optional group sessions (SIG). The primary outcome was weight loss at the end of the 3-month program.
Results:
Weight losses differed among all 3 conditions (S: 1.1% ±0.9%; SI: 4.2% ±0.6%; SIG: 6.1% ±0.6%; Ps ≤ .04). Both SI and SIG increased the percentage of individuals who achieved a 5% weight loss (SI: 42%; SIG: 54%; S: 7%; Ps < .001). Cost per kilogram of weight loss was similar for S ($39) and SI ($35); both were lower than SIG ($114).
Conclusions:
Although weight losses were greatest at the end of SURI with optional group sessions, the addition of an Internet behavioral program was the most cost-effective method to enhance weight losses.
