A Facebook-based Weight Loss Programme for Obese Adults in Hong Kong

August 22, 2016 updated by: LAI Kam Wa, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Effects of a Facebook-based Weight Loss Programme for Obese Adults in Hong Kong

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a 6-month weight loss intervention program for obese working adults through a popular social networking site - Facebook.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Obese individuals often are at higher risk for developing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The regular physical activity, healthy diet and social support have been shown to be beneficial for weight loss.

This is a two-arm parallel design randomized controlled trial for 6 months. Participants who completed the baseline assessment will be randomly allocated, after stratified by gender, to either a control group or Facebook-based intervention group. The control group will receive information on healthy eating, physical activity, obesity and cancer via three government printed health pamphlets. In addition to the government health pamphlets, the intervention group will receive a programme delivered through Facebook.

The interventions include participation in a private research group on Facebook for health education, self monitoring and social support. Participants will receive 12 weekly lessons related to nutrition, physical activity, Chinese food therapy, acupressure, weight loss. A registered nutritionist and a registered Chinese medicine practitioner will join the Facebook group as health partners. Both of them are also registered nurses.

Data collection will be carried out at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Each time, both groups will complete online questionnaires and attend in-person anthropometric measurements

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

59

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
        • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • university full-time employees;
  • age 18 to 60 years,
  • BMI of 25 to 40 kg/m2,
  • have access to Internet and Facebook;
  • able to communicate in both English and Chinese at F.5 secondary school level or above.
  • agree to communicate with Internet, email, Facebook group and respect privacy.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Smoker;
  • an unstable medical or mental status;
  • history of myocardial infarction or stroke, or cancer in the past 5 years;
  • orthopedic or joint problems that would prohibit exercise;
  • in treatment for alcohol or drug dependency;
  • an eating disorder;
  • pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning on becoming pregnant within the next 6 months;
  • use of medication that might affect body weight;
  • a recent weight loss of more than 4.5 kg in the previous 6 months;
  • currently participating in a weight loss program;
  • organic obesity;
  • unable to attend assessments or increase physical activity.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group

Lifestyle Intervention: The interventions include participation in a private research group on Facebook for health education, self monitoring and social support. Participants will receive 12 weekly lessons related to nutrition, physical activity, Chinese food therapy, acupressure, weight loss. A registered nutritionist and a registered Chinese medicine practitioner will join the Facebook group as health partners. Both of them are also registered nurses.

Besides the Facebook contents, the participants will also receive government printed health information on healthy eating, physical activity, obesity and cancers.
Behavioral: Lifestyle Intervention
East-meets-West Lifestyle Intervention elements include nutrition and exercise from the Western perspective, food therapy and acupressure from the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, self-monitoring, and motivational videos of successful stories from working colleagues. The group participants in the Facebook are encouraged to post their health behaviors and questions, self-monitor, pledge for weight loss, seek social support and interact with health partners and other participants.
No Intervention: Control Group
The participants randomized into the Control Group will only receive government printed health information on healthy eating, physical activity, obesity and cancers.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in body weight
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Weights will be taken in light clothes without shoes using a digital scale
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Changes in Body Mass Index
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Height will be taken at baseline using a wall-mounted stadiometer. BMI will be calculated as weight (kg)/height (m2)
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Changes in waist circumference
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Waist circumference will be measured by using an inelastic tape measure
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in Stages of Change
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
A 5-item questionnaire will be used to categorize participants into stages of change (pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance)
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Changes in weight self-efficacy
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Self-efficacy for weight loss will be assessed by using a 20-item Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL).
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Changes in physical activity self-efficacy
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
A questionnaire of perceived confidence to engage in physical activity under a variety of circumstances on a 5-point Likert scale will be used.
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Changes in weight decisional balance
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
A 20-item questionnaire of perceived pros and cons of weight loss on a 5-point Likert scale. The balance of the two scores >0 indicate more advantages than disadvantages to weight loss
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Changes in social support
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
A questionnaire will be used to measure the perceived support and sabotage from friends and family for healthy eating and physical activity
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Changes in dietary intake of fruits and vegetables
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
A questionnaire will be used to assess self-reported intake of fruits and vegetables in terms of portion size and frequency
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
Changes in physical activity
Time Frame: Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire will be used to assess the changes in physical activity
Measures are done in three time points: baseline, 3 months and 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: WanChaw SHAE, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

April 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 24, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 24, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

November 26, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 24, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 22, 2016

Last Verified

August 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 20131213002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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