ERIC Number: EJ1364550
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Feb
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1090-1981
EISSN: EISSN-1552-6127
Men's Weight Loss Outcomes, Behaviors, and Perceptions in a Self-Directed Commercial Mobile Program: Retrospective Analysis
Behr, Heather; Ho, Annabell Suh; Yang, Qiuchen; Mitchell, Ellen Siobhan; DeLuca, Laura; Greenstein, Noa; Michaelides, Andreas
Health Education & Behavior, v50 n1 p70-83 Feb 2023
Background: There is little understanding of men's weight loss outcomes and behaviors in self-directed contexts, such as digital commercial mobile weight management programs. This is an especially pressing question given that men often express disinterest in weight management programs and it is unknown how that manifests in self-directed environments. Aims: Two studies fill this gap by retrospectively observing how men lose weight and engage in weight loss behaviors (Study 1) and their perceptions of improvements and gained knowledge (Study 2) when participating in the full length of a commercial mobile behavior change program called Noom. Method: In Study 1, repeated-measures linear mixed modeling was used to examine whether weight loss was statistically significant from baseline to 16 weeks and how engagement behaviors predicted weight in a sample of 7,495 male Noom users. In Study 2, 971 male Noom users completed an exploratory survey on the impact of the behavior change education in the program. Results: In Study 1, men who remained in the full length of the program lost statistically significant weight from baseline to 16 weeks. 63% achieved clinically meaningful (5% or more) weight loss. Engagement in weight loss behaviors on the program predicted the amount of weight lost. In Study 2, men reported learning most about practical application and psychological aspects relating to food and psychology. Discussion and Conclusion: This is the first study to observe men's weight loss outcomes, behaviors, and perceptions of what they learned in a self-directed behavior change program. Our findings have important implications for more effective health promotion for the many men who choose to self-direct their weight loss.
Descriptors: Males, Body Weight, Eating Habits, Behavior Change, Health Behavior, Telecommunications, Handheld Devices, Outcomes of Education, Personal Autonomy, Psychological Patterns, Program Effectiveness, Food, Health Promotion, Intervention, Participant Characteristics, Obesity, Physical Activities
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A