Ironically, the web is both a cause of rising prices of overweight and obesity as well as an opportunity to enhance results of dieting and weight loss efforts. Clearly, anything that contributes to the sedentary lifestyle of ours is a problem -- and the Internet undoubtedly does that. Though researchers have discovered that a structured weight-loss system delivered over the web can assist people achieve improved dieting results.

Independent study proof

Independent research proof
In a 2001 research at Brown Medical School, two groups of individuals desiring to lose fat were monitored for a period of six weeks. One group received weekly dieting guidance from behavioral therapists on the internet, while the other just had access to info about good nutrition and exercise. The group that received the weekly dieting recommendation lost 3 times just as much weight as those who just had access to information -- nine pounds compared to 3 pounds. Based on these findings, the scientists concluded that "the Internet and e mail seem to be practical techniques for shipping and delivery of structured behavioral weight-loss programs."

Study validates structured approach

Study validates structured approach

A much more recent study, leanbean best price led by Dr. Stanley Heshka of St Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York, found out that a commercially available structured weight-loss system delivered much better results than a self-help method. With this test, one particular group of people which are overweight received printed dieting and exercise resource materials and direction in identifying additional weight loss resources at public libraries, by telephone and also on the web.
The additional group received vouchers to attend weekly meetings at Weight Watchers and chance to view Weight Watchers' food plans, activity packages and cogitative behavior modification services. By the end of the two-year study, the group of participants which joined the Weight Watchers program had obtained better excess weight loss results. Just as before, the more structured diet program approach proved to be more effective.
Who's to blame for very poor performance?
Who's to blame for very poor performance?

A subsequent study led by Dr. Leslie Womble, a clinical psychologist in the Faculty of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, compared yet another commercial weight-loss system -- this one delivered online -- to a diet program accessible in a printed manual. In this situation, the Internet program was found to be less reliable. This result surprised the researchers, that had anticipated the complete opposite outcome. The researchers speculated that one reason the online program performed badly was that, while it provided several weight loss information, the user experience it provided was ultimately unstructured. The manual, on the opposite hand, gave directions that are clear for dieting and losing weight and put greater emphasis on activities like recording counting calories and food intake.

Ask questions before you buy

Wiser consumers