Undergrad and overweight: an online behavioral weight management program for college students.

Objective: Explore the feasibility of an online behavioral weight management program for college students.

Methods: The program focused on behavioral strategies to modify eating and exercise behaviors of students interested in losing weight and/or developing a healthy lifestyle. Specific tools included weekly chat meetings with a facilitator, calorie and fat gram recommendations, daily food logs, and exercise guidance.

Results: Three hundred thirty-six students participated from 2 northeastern universities. Overweight/obese students wanting to lose weight had a mean body mass index of 30.6 kg/m(2) at baseline and lost an average of 5.1 ± 6.0 lbs. Those of healthy weight wanting to lose weight had a mean body mass index of 22.0 kg/m(2) at baseline and lost an average of 1.8 ± 3.2 lbs. Twenty-three percent of students lost > 5% of their baseline weight.

Conclusions And Implications: Use of an online behavioral weight management program may be a feasible way to help college students develop healthy eating and exercise behaviors.