Nutrition assessment in process-driven, personalized dietetic intervention - The potential importance of assessing behavioural components to improve behavioural change: Results of the EU-funded IMPECD project.

Background & Aims: Although up-to-date definitions for nutrition assessment integrate behavioural components, it is not clear what behavioural components are to be assessed. Since behavioural modification is linked to effective therapeutic dietetic interventions, assessing behaviour and factors influencing behaviour might be beneficial to improve personalized dietetic outcome. The aim of the following report is to emphasize the role of behavioural components and factors affecting behaviour at baseline nutrition assessment in personalized dietetic intervention.

Changes in self-reported energy balance behaviours and body mass index during a mass media campaign.

Background: Prevention of (serious) overweight can be achieved by means of small behaviour changes in physical activity and/or diet.

Objective: To evaluate a mass media campaign promoting energy balance behaviours in a Dutch population. Effects were examined for body mass index (BMI) and five energy balance behaviours.

Effectiveness of a Web-based intervention aimed at healthy dietary and physical activity behavior: a randomized controlled trial about users and usage.

Background: Recent studies have shown the potential of Web-based interventions for changing dietary and physical activity (PA) behavior. However, the pathways of these changes are not clear. In addition, nonusage poses a threat to these interventions.

Usage and effect of a web-based intervention for the prevention of overweight; a RCT.

Web-based interventions can be effective in changing behaviour of people faced with health problems. However, it is unclear whether they are effective in preventing health problems like overweight. The aim of this study was to investigate usage and effectiveness of the Healthy Weight Assistant (HWA), a web-based application to increase healthy behaviour in adults with a healthy weight or slight overweight, by means of a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT).

Effect of an individually tailored one-year energy balance programme on body weight, body composition and lifestyle in recent retirees: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: The increased prevalence of overweight and obesity warrants preventive actions, particularly among people in transitional stages associated with lifestyle changes, such as occupational retirement. The purpose is to investigate the effect of a one year low-intensity computer-tailored energy balance programme among recent retirees on waist circumference, body weight and body composition, blood pressure, physical activity and dietary intake.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted among recent retirees (N = 413; mean age 59.

Evaluation of a web-based lifestyle coach designed to maintain a healthy bodyweight.

We evaluated a web-based intervention, the Healthy Weight Assistant (HWA), which was designed to help people with a healthy bodyweight, or those who are slightly overweight, to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Four evaluation methods were used: (1) pre- and post-test questionnaires; (2) real time usability-tests; (3) log-file analysis; (4) qualitative analysis of forum posts, email messages and free-text responses in the questionnaires. A total of 703 respondents received access to the HWA.

Study protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a tailored energy balance programme for recent retirees.

Background: People in transitional life stages, such as occupational retirement, are likely to gain weight and accumulate abdominal fat mass caused by changes in physical activity and diet. Hence, retirees are an important target group for weight gain prevention programmes, as described in the present paper.

Methods/design: A systematic and stepwise approach (Intervention Mapping) is used to develop a low-intensity energy balance intervention programme for recent retirees.

A systematic review of randomized trials on the effectiveness of computer-tailored education on physical activity and dietary behaviors.

Background: Although computer-tailored promotion of dietary change and physical activity has been identified as a promising intervention strategy, there is a need for a more systematic evaluation of the evidence.

Purpose: This study systematically reviews the scientific literature on computer-tailored physical activity and nutrition education.

Methods: Intervention studies published from 1965 up to September 2004 were identified through a structured search in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science and an examination of reference lists of relevant publications.