Pounds Off Digitally

Pounds Off Digitally is a podcasting-based weight loss intervention. With 66.3% of adults in the United States either overweight or obese new weight loss interventions are necessary. Being overweight increases risk of developing many chronic diseases; the main treatments include dietary change, physical activity, and other behavioral modifications. Pounds Off Digitally offers weight loss intervention via a podcast (audio files for a portable music player or computer) has the advantage of being user controlled, easily accessible to those with the internet, and mobile. Over the course of 12 weeks overweight adults with a body mass index (BMI: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) between 25 and 40 kg/m2 receive 24 episodes of a weight loss podcast based on social cognitive theory. The podcast provides expectancies of weight loss, personal accounts of what to expect from trying to lose weight, information on how to lose weight, exercise, and make dietary changes, and ends with a goal to achieve.

The goal of the Pounds Off Digitally podcast is increase weight loss among overweight and obese adults.

Participants receiving the Pounds Off Digitally podcast had a significantly greater decrease in weight (-2.9 ± 3.5 kg) and BMI (-1.0 ± 1.2 kg/m2) than those receiving a standard weight loss podcast (-0.3 ± 2.1 kg and -0.1 ± 0.7 kg/m2). They also reported significantly greater increases in fruit and vegetable consumption and participation in vigorous activity. Individuals receiving the intervention also had significantly greater knowledge regarding weight loss, less cognitive load, and greater user control. Pounds Off Digitally provides a low-cost, easy to disseminate weight-loss intervention.