Balance

Description:

Balance is a 6-week self-help system designed to help you manage your weight.  It is tailored to your specific needs based on baseline assessment data, and your goals for weight loss, confidence and barriers.  The program includes a guide and materials that provide information on diet, physical activity, barriers to weight loss, support and self-monitoring.  The content of the program also discusses creating a healthy diet, social cues to eating, types of physical activity, having a better understanding of the relationship between food consumption and energy expenditure, calorie and fat consumption, thoughts about previous weight loss attempts and body image.  You can also nominate a friend to act as a support buddy as you complete the program.  Balance also assesses obesity-related health problems such as stress, heart disease and diabetes.

Service URL:

http://www.healthmedia.com/products/digitalcoachingprograms/balance.htm

Agency Responsible:

HealthMedia Inc.

Details

Format:

Website.

Intervention Type:

Lifestyle (e.g. physical activity, diet).

Course Length:

Long (more than 5 modules). Comprises 6 weeks

Support Option:

Automated only.

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Weight and Obesity. Targets weight loss

Target Audience:

Adult.

Language:

English.

Access

Fee:

Fee-based.

Access:

Closed: Email administrator.

Contact Details:

Contact can be made using an automated email system on the website or by contacting info@healthmedia.com

Research evidence

Research Trials:

2

Research RCTs:

1

Outcome Summary:

Balance has been evaluated in an RCT against an information only condition where participants were given links to information about weight loss.  The study found that in overweight and obese individuals there was significantly more weight loss at 3 and 6 months compared to controls.  Further, individuals in the intervention condition were more likely to have read the web-based information in the links provided, and more likely to have found these to be helpful, easy to understand and relevant to their weight loss.  Therefore, there is some evidence that Balance works to increase weight loss.

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

Read more about Beacon's Smiley Rating System.

Research paper citations

1. Rothert, K., Strecher, V.J., Doyle, L.A., Caplan, W.M., Joyce, J.S., Jimison, H.B., Karm, L.M., Mims, A.D., & Roth, M.A. (2006). Web-based weight management programs in an integrated health care setting: A randomized, controlled trial. Obesity, 14, 266-272.
2. Glasgow, R.E., Nelson, C.C., Kearney, K.A., Reid, R., Ritzwoller, D.P., Strecher, V.J., Couper, M.P., Green, B., & Wildenhaus, K. (2007). Reach, engagement, and retention in an internet-based weight loss program in a multi-site randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 9, e11.