Controlled trial of an Internet-based intervention for overweight teens (Next.Step): effectiveness analysis

Adolescent obesity is a major health problem. The need for effective adolescent weight management programs is of high clinical and public health relevance. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an e-therapeutic platform (Next.Step), aiming to promote weight management skills and the adoption of health-promoting lifestyles. This nonrandomized clinical trial with control group uses a sample of 94 adolescents who attended a paediatric obesity clinic. The experimental group was invited to access the platform Next.Step during 24 weeks, in addition to the standard treatment program. The control group followed the standard treatment protocol and joined a waiting list. Overall, the outcomes of the e-therapeutic program were not substantially better than those obtained with a traditional kind of intervention despite the intervention being associated with an improved health responsibility score (d = 0.51; p = 0.014). Several predictors of the Next.Step effectiveness were found.

Although the e-therapeutic program led to a significant increase in health responsibility, inconclusive results were found regarding the program effectiveness compared to the standard multidisciplinary intervention. The lack of significant differences between groups may be due to the reduced rates of program adherence and the high dropout rate.

• Adolescent obesity has reached epidemic proportions, and standard treatment programs have been unable to achieve the desired adherence so far. • Internet-based programs have already shown positive results in the adult obese population, but information is scarce regarding adolescents.

• This study assesses the effectiveness of a structured case management program including communication technologies on both the behavioural change and the health of obese adolescents. • The e-therapeutic program led to an increase in health responsibility.