received feed-
back from
dietitians lost
an average of
11 pounds.
Participants
also reduced
their LDL cho-
lesterol levels, triglycerides and blood glucose levels. According to
Dr. John Foreyt, director of the Nutrition Research Clinic at Baylor
College of Medicine, and a scientific advisor for the new
CaloriesCount.com site, "Research shows the individuals who join
online weight management programs are often more successful in
losing weight and keeping their weight off. Such online services are
becoming increasingly popular as people seek out information and
tools privately, conveniently and affordably."
In addition to the recent studies showing that online dieting can
be effective, the Calorie Control Council's site, www.caloriecontrol.org,
(targeted to health conscious consumers) was receiving and contin-
ues to receive a large interest in the tools, features and information
provided on the site. In fact, the site averages 350,000 visitors per
month and 7.5 million hits per month. Visitors to that site
expressed a need for more enhanced weight management tools,
24/7 online access and support, more meal plans and recipes,
more exercise tips, more frequent tips and information, and access
to expert advice through chats, feature articles, etc. Visitors to the
caloriecontrol.org site also indicated a willingness to pay to cover the
costs of the expanded services. Thus, CaloriesCount.com was a nat-
ural evolution of the caloriecontrol.org site.
In April, CaloriesCount.com was launched. The site currently
attracts more than 100,000 visitors per month. The site offers a
weekly newsletter, timely information on dieting, weight control
and exercise, a Get Moving Calculator, an integrated Enhanced
Calorie Calculator and Online Food Diary (that allows members to
store their information online), a Weigh In Calculator (that allows
members to track as well as graph their weight loss), access to
experts and access to the site 24/7. Additionally, the site is non-
profit and charges a small fee only to cover costs.
Log on to www.CaloriesCount.com today to take a tour, read the
articles, use the tools and find out how many calories you need to
lose or maintain your weight. The site promises you'll never say
"diet" again!
References:
Tate, Deborah, F., PhD, Wing, Rena R., PhD, Winett, Richard A., PhD. Using Internet
Technology to Deliver a Behavioral Weight Loss Program. Journal of the American
Medical Association. March 7, 2001. Vol. 285. No. 9. 1172-1177.
www.livingheart.com
6
C
New Online Weight Loss Web Site
Launched: CaloriesCount.com
urrently, nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population
is overweight and many health professionals are
calling the obesity crisis an epidemic. With so
many people overweight and obese, consumers
are searching for the "magic bullet" to help
them succeed in weight loss. A recent report
issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
found that consumers spent $35 billion on
weight loss in 2000 (including books, videos,
pills, shakes, etc.) and most of the ads for
weight loss products contain misleading claims,
according to the FTC. It seems obvious that there
is a need, for sound, sensible scientific informa-
tion about weight management. To help fulfill
that need a new, online weight loss Web site,
"CaloriesCount.com: Healthy Eating and
Exercise for Life" was recently launched by the
Calorie Control Council (CCC). This site was cre-
ated to help educate consumers about the
importance of sensible eating (including con-
trolling calories) and incorporating daily physical
activity.
Studies Show Online DIeting Can Be Effective
Recent research has shown that online diet-
ing can be effective. A study published in the
Journal of the American Medical Association
and conducted by Brown University researchers
found that overweight subjects who participated
in a six-month interactive online dieting
program were able to lose weight. Participants
were divided into an Internet education group
and an Internet behavior therapy group. The
Internet education group participated in a weight
loss session and was given access to Web sites
with various weight loss resource links. The
Internet behavior therapy group participated in a
weight loss session and also received feedback
from therapists via email, online bulletin boards,
etc. After the six-month study, those who were
part of the Internet behavior therapy group lost
approximately nine pounds (three times as
much weight as the Internet education group).
Another study, conducted by researchers at
Baylor College of Medicine, found that patients
who used the Internet to track their weight and
"Research
shows the
individuals who
join online
weight manage-
ment programs
are often more
successful in
losing weight
and keeping
their weight off.
Such online
services are
becoming
increasingly
popular as
people seek out
information and
tools privately,
conveniently
and affordably."
-- Dr. John
Foreyt,
DIRECTOR
OF THE
N
UTRITION
R
ESEARCH
C
LINIC
,
B
AYLOR
C
OLLEGE
OF
M
EDICINE
