Evidence-Based Digital Tools for Weight Loss Maintenance: The NoHoW Project

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Most individuals regain weight after successful weight loss (WL) due to a lack of effective weight loss maintenance (WLM) solutions.
• Evidence-based techniques for WLM include self-monitoring, goal setting, action planning, self-efficacy building, and autonomous motivation strategies.
• Digital technologies offer potential for WLM support, but many current offerings lack evidence-based content and robust evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate European citizens' weight loss (WL) and weight loss maintenance (WLM) behaviors and success rates.
• To develop a digital toolkit for WLM grounded in behavioral science, focusing on self-management of behavior and emotional responses.
• To test the efficacy of this digital toolkit in adults who have achieved significant WL.

Main Methods:

• The project involved studies on European consumer behavior and the design/evaluation of digital WLM toolkits.
• A randomized controlled trial (NoHoW trial) assessed the digital toolkit's efficacy in adults with prior significant WL (≥5%).
• Primary outcome was weight change at 12 months; secondary outcomes included biological, psychological, and behavioral factors, user experience, and cost-effectiveness.

Main Results:

• The project developed a digital toolkit and framework for energy balance (EB) tracking interventions.
• The NoHoW trial provided data on the efficacy of the digital toolkit for WLM.
• User experience, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of the digital toolkit were evaluated.

Conclusions:

• The project generated insights into European consumer behavior regarding WL and WLM.
• A digital toolkit based on self-management principles was developed and tested for WLM.
• Findings will inform the next generation of personalized digital health interventions for effective weight and health self-management.