***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: CONTEXT Rapid increases in access to the Internet have made it a viable mode for public health intervention . No controlled studies have evaluated this re source for weight loss . OBJECTIVE To determine whether a structured Internet behavioral weight loss program produces greater initial weight loss and changes in waist circumference than a weight loss education Web site . DESIGN R and omized , controlled trial conducted from April to December 1999 . SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Ninety-one healthy , overweight adult hospital employees aged 18 to 60 years with a body mass index of 25 to 36 kg/m(2 ) . Analyses were performed for the 65 who had complete follow-up data . INTERVENTIONS Participants were r and omly assigned to a 6-month weight loss program of either Internet education ( education ; n = 32 with complete data ) or Internet behavior therapy ( behavior therapy ; n = 33 with complete data ) . All participants were given 1 face-to-face group weight loss session and access to a Web site with organized links to Internet weight loss re sources . Participants in the behavior therapy group received additional behavioral procedures , including a sequence of 24 weekly behavioral lessons via e-mail , weekly online su bmi ssion of self-monitoring diaries with individualized therapist feedback via e-mail , and an online bulletin board . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Body weight and waist circumference , measured at 0 , 3 , and 6 months , compared the 2 intervention groups . RESULTS Repeated- measures analyses showed that the behavior therapy group lost more weight than the education group ( P = .005 ) . The behavior therapy group lost a mean ( SD ) of 4.0 ( 2.8 ) kg by 3 months and 4.1 ( 4.5 ) kg by 6 months . Weight loss in the education group was 1.7 ( 2.7 ) kg at 3 months and 1.6 ( 3.3 ) kg by 6 months . More participants in the behavior therapy than education group achieved the 5 % weight loss goal ( 45 % vs 22 % ; P = .05 ) by 6 months . Changes in waist circumference were also greater in the behavior therapy group than in the education group at both 3 months ( P = .001 ) and 6 months ( P = .005 ) . CONCLUSIONS Participants who were given a structured behavioral treatment program with weekly contact and individualized feedback had better weight loss compared with those given links to educational Web sites . Thus , the Internet and e-mail appear to be viable methods for delivery of structured behavioral weight loss programs Background Rising levels of obesity coupled with the limited success of currently available weight control methods highlight the need for investigation of novel approaches to obesity treatment . This study aims to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an Internet-based re source for obesity management . Methods A r and omised controlled trial conducted in a community setting , where obese volunteers ( n = 221 ) were r and omly assigned to  Internet group ( n = 111 ) or usual care group ( n = 110 ) . Objective measures of weight and height were obtained . Question naires were used to collect dietary , lifestyle , physical activity and quality of life data . Data were collected at baseline , six months and 12 months . Results Data were collected on 54 ( 49 % ) participants in the Internet group and 77 ( 70 % ) participants in the usual care group at 12 months . Based on analysis conducted on all available data , the Internet group lost 1.3 kg , compared with 1.9 kg weight loss in the usual care group at 12 months , a non-significant difference ( difference = 0.6 kg ; 95 % CI : -1.4 to 2.5 , p = 0.56 ) . No significant differences in change in secondary outcome measures between the two groups at six or 12 months were revealed . Total costs per person per year were higher in the Internet group than the usual care group ( £ 992.40 compared to £ 276.12 ) , primarily due to the fixed costs associated with setting up the website , and QALYs were similar ( 0.78 and 0.77 ) for both groups . Conclusion This trial failed to show any additional benefit of this website in terms of weight loss or secondary outcome measures compared with usual care . High attrition and low compliance limits the results of this research . The results suggest that the Internet-based weight control re source was not a cost-effective tool for weight loss in the obese sample studied . Trail Registration IS RCT N BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that e-mail counseling improves weight loss achieved in self-directed Internet programs . Computer-tailored feedback offers a population -based alternative to human e-mail counseling . METHODS One hundred ninety-two adults , aged 49.2 + /- 9.8 years , having a body mass index ( calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared ) of 32.7 + /- 3.5 , were r and omized to 1 of 3 Internet treatment groups : No counseling , computer-automated feedback , or human e-mail counseling .  All participants received 1 weight loss group session , coupons for meal replacements , and access to an interactive Web site . The human e-mail counseling and computer-automated feedback groups also had access to an electronic diary and message board . The human e-mail counseling group received weekly e-mail feedback from a counselor , and the computer-automated feedback group received automated , tailored messages . RESULTS Retention was 82 % at 3 months and 80 % at 6 months for all 3 groups . At 3 months , completers in both the computer-automated feedback ( -5.3 + /- 4.2 kg ) and human e-mail counseling ( -6.1 + /- 3.9 kg ) groups had significantly greater weight losses compared with the no counseling group ( -2.8 + /- 3.5 kg ) and these groups did not differ from each other . At 6 months , weight losses were significantly greater in the human e-mail counseling group ( -7.3 + /- 6.2 kg ) than in the computer-automated feedback ( -4.9 + /- 5.9 kg ) or no counseling ( -2.6 + /- 5.7 kg ) groups . Intent-to-treat analyses using single or multiple imputation techniques showed the same pattern of significance . CONCLUSIONS Providing automated computer-tailored feedback in an Internet weight loss program was as effective as human e-mail counseling at 3 months . Further research is needed to improve the efficacy of automated computer-tailored feedback as a population -based weight loss approach Background : Internet-based weight-loss programs appear promising in the short-term but , to data , have not been able to produce the level of weight loss seen in traditional in-person treatment ; thus , novel approaches are necessary . Using a combination of interactive technology and in-person support has been beneficial in other areas of medicine . Purpose : The aim of this study is to compare 12-month weight-loss outcomes of an Internet-only behavioral weight-loss treatment with the same program supplemented with monthly in-person meetings . Methods : One hundred and twenty-three participants were r and omized to an Internet-only ( n=62 ) or an Internet + in-person treatment ( I+IPS ; n=61 ) . All participants then participated in a 12-month behavioral weight-loss program conducted over the Internet . The groups met online weekly for the first 6 months and biweekly for the second half of the intervention . The I+IPS group had access to the same Web site as the Internet-only group but , once a month , attended an in-person meeting in place of an online chat . Assessment s included body weight , program adherence , and social support measures . Results : An intent-to-treat analysis ( n=123 ) revealed there were no significant Group x Time differences ( p=.15 ) in weight loss at either 6 ( −6.8±7.8 vs. −5.1±4.8 , p=.15 ) or 12 months ( −5.1±7.1 kg vs. −3.5±5.1 kg , p=.17 , for Internet-only and I+IPS , respectively ) . Differences between groups for those completing all measures ( n=77 ) also revealed no significant differences at 6 months ( −9.2±7.0 kg vs. −6.9±4.2 kg , p=.08 ) or 12 months ( −8.0±7.5 kg vs. −5.6±5.5 kg , p=.10 for the Internet-only and I+IPS conditions , respectively ) . Conclusions : Supplementation of an Internet weight-loss treatment with monthly in-person meetings did not result in greater weight losses over 12 months . Dynamic , socially supportive , and interactive elements of the Web site may have obviated the need for further interpersonal behavioral counseling OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of an Internet weight maintenance program . RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES Two hundred fifty-five healthy overweight and obese adults ( mean + /- SD BMI , 31.8 + /- 4.1 kg/m(2 ) ) men ( 18 % ; mean + /- SD age , 45.8 + /- 8.9 yrs ) participated in a 6-month behavioral weight control program conducted over interactive television . Treatment was followed by a 12-month weight maintenance program with three conditions : frequent in-person support ( F-IPS ) , minimal in-person support ( M-IPS ) and internet support ( IS ) . Main outcome measures included body weight , program adherence , and social influence components . RESULTS There were no significant differences among the groups in weight loss ( mean + /- SD ) from baseline to 18 months ( 7.6 + /- 7.3 kg vs. 5.5 + /- 8.9 kg vs. 5.1 + /- 6.5 kg , p = 0.23 for the IS , M-IPS , and F-IPS , respectively ) . DISCUSSION Participants assigned to an internet-based weight maintenance program sustained comparable weight loss over 18 months compared with individuals who continued to meet face-to-face . Therefore , the internet appears to be a viable medium for promoting long-term weight maintenance CONTEXT Weight loss programs on the Internet appear promising for short-term weight loss but have not been studied for weight loss in individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes ; thus , the longer-term efficacy is unknown . OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of an Internet weight loss program alone vs with the addition of behavioral counseling via e-mail provided for 1 year to individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes . DESIGN , SETTING , AND PARTICIPANTS A single-center r and omized controlled trial conducted from September 2001 to September 2002 in Providence , RI , of 92 overweight adults whose mean ( SD ) age was 48.5 ( 9.4 ) years and body mass index , 33.1 ( 3.8 ) . INTERVENTIONS Participants were r and omized to a basic Internet ( n = 46 ) or to an Internet plus behavioral e-counseling program ( n = 46 ) . Both groups received 1 face-to-face counseling session and the same core Internet programs and were instructed to su bmi t weekly weights . Participants in e-counseling su bmi tted calorie and exercise information and received weekly e-mail behavioral counseling and feedback from a counselor . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Measured weight and waist circumference at 0 and 12 months . RESULTS Intent-to-treat analyses showed the behavioral e-counseling group lost more mean ( SD ) weight at 12 months than the basic Internet group ( -4.4 [ 6.2 ] vs -2.0 [ 5.7 ] kg ; P = .04 ) , and had greater decreases in percentage of initial body weight ( 4.8 % vs 2.2 % ; P = .03 ) , body mass index ( -1.6 [ 2.2 ] vs -0.8 [ 2.1 ] ; P = .03 ) , and waist circumference ( -7.2 [ 7.5 ] vs -4.4 [ 5.7 ] cm ; P = .05 ) . CONCLUSION Adding e-mail counseling to a basic Internet weight loss intervention program significantly improved weight loss in adults at risk of diabetes OBJECTIVE Internet weight loss programs have become widely available as alternatives to st and ard treatment , but few data are available on their efficacy . This study aim ed to investigate the effectiveness of a structured behavioral weight loss website ( VTrim ) vs. a commercial weight loss website ( eDiets.com ) . RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES A r and omized , controlled trial was conducted from February 2003 to March 2005 , in 124 overweight and obese subjects ages 18 years and older with a BMI of 25 to 39.9 kg/m2 ( mean age , 47 + /- 9 years ; BMI , 32 + /- 3 kg/m2 ; 20 % men ) . Analyses were performed for the 88 subjects who had complete follow-up data . Participants were r and omly assigned to 12-month VTrim ( n = 62 ) or eDiets.com ( n = 62 ) intervention . VTrim participants had access to a therapist-led structured behavioral weight loss program delivered on-line . eDiets.com subjects had access to a self-help commercial on-line weight loss program .  Body weight , social support , and use of website components were measured at 0 , 6 , and 12 months . RESULTS Repeated- measures analyses showed that the VTrim group lost significantly more weight than the eDiets.com group at 6 months ( 8.3 + /- 7.9 kg vs. 4.1 + /- 6.2 kg ; p = 0.004 ) and maintained a greater loss at 12 months ( 7.8 + /- 7.5 kg vs. 3.4 + /- 5.8 kg ; p = 0.002 ) . More participants in the VTrim group maintained a 5 % weight loss goal ( 65 % vs. 37.5 % ; p = 0.01 ) at 
    Output:
    
Higher usage of website features may be associated with positive weight change , but we do not know what features improve this effect or reduce attrition